Somalia has rejected an agreement between its breakaway region of Somaliland and Ethiopia that would grant Ethiopia access to a key port in exchange for recognizing Somaliland as an independent state.
The Somali government stated that the pact, signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi, lacked legal validity.
Somalia, considering Somaliland as part of its territory, has summoned its ambassador to Ethiopia for discussions regarding the agreement.
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The deal would enable landlocked Ethiopia, heavily reliant on Djibouti for maritime trade, to lease a 20 km area around the port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden, providing access to the Red Sea for naval and commercial purposes over 50 years.
In return, Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent nation.
Abiy Ahmed’s pursuit of Red Sea access has heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa and raised concerns about potential conflicts.
In response to the agreement, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared during a parliamentary session that “no one has the power to give away a piece of Somalia.”
The Somali government characterized the deal as an unwarranted interference with Somalia’s sovereignty, freedom, and unity, deeming it “null and void.”
Mohamud emphasized that Ethiopia does not officially recognize Somaliland.
Ethiopia’s national security adviser proposed offering Somaliland a stake in the state-owned Ethiopian Airlines in exchange for Red Sea access, although the size of the stake remains unclear.
Officials from the Ethiopian government, including spokespeople from Abiy’s office and the foreign affairs ministry, did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
Despite declaring autonomy from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has not gained widespread international recognition.
Last week, there were reports of renewed talks between Somalia and Somaliland to address disputes, following mediation led by Djibouti.
However, Somaliland’s interior minister, Mohamed Kahin, rejected Somalia’s stance on the Ethiopia deal and called for an apology, asserting that Somaliland is not part of Somalia.
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Somalia Objects To Ethiopia-Somaliland Port Agreement, Calls It Illegal, Somalia Objects To Ethiopia-Somaliland Port Agreement, Calls It Illegal
