Fight in Somaliland parliament wrongly linked to row over weapons sent to Somalia by Egypt

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<span>Screenshot of the fake post, taken on September 4, 2024</span>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ppd4qIZdoWK5XqIqE9tyZg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcxMA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/afp_factcheck_us_713/31b8f59eac82ff 9b0f24520fc2fbdabf”/></p>
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Screenshot of the fake post, taken on September 4, 2024

The post includes a 56-second video showing heated scenes between deputies attending a hearing in an auditorium. As tensions rise, several individuals get into a fight.

The report claims the events took place in Somalia’s parliament building.

Military tensions

Ethiopia and Somalia have been in conflict since Ethiopia became a agreement earlier this year with Somaliland – a breakaway region of Somalia – allowing Addis Ababa to use a port in Berbera (archived here).

<span>Regional map of East Africa showing the port of Berbera, in the breakaway region of Somaliland, with which Ethiopia has signed an agreement to gain access to the sea (Valentina BRESCHI / AFP)</span>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5CozAVnLSyxXjK9krYosjQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEwOTM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/afp_factcheck_us_713/ab0f58290b2684 0ba2424ad1d883579c”/><span><knop klasse=

Regional map of East Africa showing the port of Berbera, in the breakaway region of Somaliland, with which Ethiopia has signed an agreement to gain access to the sea (Valentina BRESCHI / AFP)

This led to a diplomatic row and military tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, which fought two wars in 1964 and 1977. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently accused Ethiopia of violating his sovereignty (archived here).

Talks facilitated by Turkey to break the impasse ended unsuccessfully. A new round of mediation is scheduled for September 17, 2024.

Matters escalated further in late August when Egypt military equipment to Somalia.

This angered Ethiopia, which has been involved in a conflict for a long time dispute with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile (archived here).

Egypt fears that the huge dam could severely reduce the flow of the Nile, while Ethiopia sees the dam as important for its development. The talks between the two countries have also ended without compromise.

In this context, the post claims to show images of Somali parliamentarians loyal to Ethiopia attacking those who support Egypt’s military aid.

However, this claim is incorrect.

Fighting in Somaliland

AFP Fact Check used the video verification tool InVID-WeVerify to execute reverse image search on key frames from the video.

The results led to a slightly longer video published on YouTube on September 3, 2024 (archived here).

The video begins with a man pointing his finger at someone at the front of the hall and shouting. “This cannot be accepted and it cannot be brought here,” he says. “In the name of God, this cannot be accepted.”

He repeats his words until others behind him try to force him to sit down, at which point the conversation turns into a brawl.

An AFP journalist in Mogadishu verified the content and context of the video and confirmed that the footage was recorded in the Somaliland parliament building in Hargeisa, and not in Somalia.

AFP Fact Check matched the location shown in the clip to official images released by the Somaliland parliament. The same furniture, flooring and wall paneling are visible.

<span>Screenshots of a video of the parliament chamber published by the official Somaliland parliamentary page (left) and the location seen in the fake post (right), taken on September 6, 2024</span>” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/XsY9WYztalKMBM1gyK8Iag–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTI4Mg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/afp_factcheck_us_713/a7ee7fd87c3afca4 d9089dac2a459056″/><span><knop klasse=

Screenshots of a video of the parliament chamber published by the official Somaliland parliamentary page (left) and the location seen in the fake post (right), taken on September 6, 2024

The purpose of the hearing, according to reports (here And here), was intended to discuss an impeachment motion filed against opposition lawmaker Mohamed Abiib (archived here And here).

The AFP correspondent in Somalia also confirmed that the events in the video had nothing to do with the tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over Egypt’s military package.

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