By HAN News Desk
ADDIS ABABA — A senior Somali regional official in Ethiopia has strongly dismissed recent comments by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding the historical status of Dire Dawa, insisting the city has always been—and will remain—a Somali city.
Speaking during a press briefing, Cabdiraxmaan Ciid Daahir, Ethiopia’s Deputy Minister in the Office of Revenue and a prominent figure in the Somali Regional State, said:
“Dire Dawa is a Somali city that is not up for negotiation. It has always been and will forever remain a Somali city. Some individuals have provided false information to the Prime Minister.”
His remarks come in direct response to comments made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who recently stated that “Dire Dawa originally belonged to the Oromo before the 1991 political transition that brought the TPLF to power.” The statement sparked widespread debate and anger among Somali communities both inside Ethiopia and in the wider region.
Cabdiraxmaan Ciid is the first senior Somali official in Ethiopia to publicly challenge the Prime Minister’s remarks. He warned against what he described as attempts to rewrite the city’s history, emphasizing that Dire Dawa has long been a shared and multi-ethnic city, but with deep-rooted Somali cultural and historical ties.
The dispute touches on one of Ethiopia’s most sensitive political issues: the complex and often contested relationships between ethnic groups within the country’s federal system. Dire Dawa, a strategically important commercial hub and transportation corridor, has long been jointly administered and is claimed by both the Somali and Oromo regional states.
Analysts say Abiy’s comments may further inflame tensions at a time when Ethiopia is grappling with ethnic divisions, security challenges, and political fragmentation. Somali leaders, elders, and civil society groups have already begun issuing statements defending the city’s Somali identity and urging the federal government not to politicize historical narratives.
The Ethiopian government has not yet issued a clarification regarding the Prime Minister’s remarks, and it remains unclear whether further discussions on the status of Dire Dawa will take place.
