Glaring Error on Africa Map Called 'Act of Aggression'

No, Ethiopia has not annexed Somalia
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted May 27, 2019 8:42 AM CDT
Glaring Error on Africa Map Called 'Act of Aggression'
A screenshot of the map, removed Sunday.   (Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Typically it's New Zealand that gets left off maps. But this time, Somalia is getting a taste of the affront via a map published by its neighbor and longtime rival, Ethiopia. The map, removed Sunday from the website for Ethiopia's foreign ministry, showed Somalian territory included within Ethiopia's borders, with the exception of the self-declared territory of Somaliland, which isn't internationally recognized. Though the map also incorrectly joined the Republic of Congo with the Democratic Republic of Congo and left out South Sudan, Somalis weren't impressed with the apparent error, per the BBC.

"It's an act of aggression," said lawmaker Zakaria Mohamud Haji Abdi, per the Somalia Star. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. I am still in shock and angry." Others said Ethiopia was planning to annex Somalia—they've fought border wars in the past—or already claiming its borders as its own. After taking down the map, the foreign ministry clarified the image was "wrong and unacceptable." "We sincerely regret any confusion and misunderstanding this incident might have caused," a statement reads, per the BBC, which reports the foreign ministry website is down as officials investigate how the map "crept in." (East Africa is literally splitting in two.)

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