Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the appointment of Ambassador Sharmarke Ahmed Muhumed Gele as its new envoy to Ethiopia. The ambassador has been tasked with strengthening political, economic, and historical ties between the two sides.
According to the ministry, Ambassador Gele is a diplomat and public servant with 15 years of experience in the Somaliland government and international relations.
His new role is expected to focus on enhancing Somaliland’s broader diplomatic engagement across Africa.
Key Background & Leadership Roles:
* 2015–2016: Served as Head of Cabinet Secretaries at the Office of the President, supporting cabinet-level decisions and coordinating policy implementation across government institutions.
* Civil Service Commission: Chaired the Somaliland Civil Service Commission, leading institutional reforms aimed at improving public service efficiency, accountability, and service delivery.
* Diplomatic Experience: Previously served as Somaliland’s Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, contributing to diplomatic engagements and regional relations.
The appointment comes at a time of heightened tension between Ethiopia and Somalia following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024. Under that agreement, Ethiopia was to gain commercial and military access to the sea in exchange for recognizing Somaliland.
Somalia strongly condemned the deal, and regional actors expressed concern over its implications.
Subsequent diplomatic talks mediated by Turkey between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu led to the "Ankara Accord," which helped ease tensions by setting aside the Somaliland MoU.
