- Somalia protests Ethiopia deal
- Somaliland seeks international recognition
- Controversy over Gulf access
Somalia recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia and vowed to defend its territory by “any legal means” following an agreement between Addis Ababa and the Somaliland breakaway region.
The unexpected agreement, which would grant Ethiopia, a landlocked country, long-desired access to the Gulf of Aden, was deemed a “clear violation” of Somalia’s sovereignty by Mogadishu. The organisation also urged the international community to support Somalia.
The government stated that it was appealing to the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional organisation in East Africa, among others, “to support Somalia’s right to defend its sovereignty and compel Ethiopia to comply with international law.”
Only days after Somalia’s central government agreed to resume dialogue with the separatist northern region following years of impasse, the agreement was made public late on Monday in Addis Ababa.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, vehemently opposed by Mogadishu and unrecognized internationally. It has been vying for complete statehood ever since.
Muse Bihi Abdi, the leader of Somaliland, and Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia, endorsed a memorandum of understanding that would grant Ethiopia access to a military base and the port of Berbera.
Controversial Agreement Sparks Diplomatic Tensions in the Horn of Africa
The precise recompense that Somaliland would receive remains uncertain. Bihi had asserted that international recognition was an element of the agreement. However, an official statement issued by the Ethiopian prime minister’s account failed to make any reference to recognition. Rather, it solely pledged to “promote mutual interests through cooperative efforts founded on reciprocity.”
The Ethiopian government has not yet officially confirmed the agreement’s specifics.
The information minister of Somaliland, Ali Hassan Mohamed, described the agreement as a “game-changer.”
However, it incited indignation in Somalia, and, in an uncommon manifestation of consensus among the political elite, a number of former leaders condemned it.
The Somali cabinet stated on Tuesday, “Somaliland is a part of Somalia according to the Somali constitution. Therefore, Somalia views this action as a clear violation of its sovereignty and unity.”
It further stated that the agreement was “void and without legal standing, and Somalia will not accept it.” The Somali government has recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations as a result.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre of Somalia urged the populace to maintain composure in a national address.
“I want to assure you that we are committed to defending the nation; we will not tolerate any encroachment upon an inch of land, sea, or sky,” he continued. “We shall protect our territory by any lawful means at our disposal… It is imperative that we put aside our divergences and come together to safeguard our territory, integrity, and sovereignty.
Abdi Hashi, head of the upper house of Somalia and a longtime member of parliament from Somaliland, stated. “The Somali Sea is not a commodity that can be sold to the marketplace.”
Former prime minister Omar Sharmarke characterized the agreement as a “provocation” by Ethiopia. Former president Mohamed Farmaajo labeled it “a serious concern for Somalia.”
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Maritime Ambitions and Regional Dynamics
The agreement is reached months after Abiy declared that his country, the second most populous in Africa, would assert its right to access the sea, causing its neighbors concern.
Ethiopia was cut off from the coast following Eritrea’s 1993 proclamation of independence following a thirty-year war of secession.
Subsequent to the 1998-2000 Eritrean War, Addis Ababa maintained access to a port in Eritrea. However, from that point forward, the majority of Ethiopia’s trade has been routed through Djibouti.
Ethiopia’s economy has suffered without access to the Red Sea, which divides Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Situated along the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, the port of Berbera provides an African outpost at the northernmost point where the Suez canal and the Red Sea converge.
Somaliland, a 4.5-million-person former British protectorate, prints own currency, issues passports, and elects governments.
Somaliland has frequently been regarded as a beacon of stability in the turbulent Horn of Africa; however, its pursuit of sovereignty has failed to garner international recognition, resulting in its impoverished status and isolation.
The autonomous region’s difficulties became acutely apparent during the previous summer when pro-unionist communities situated in the eastern part of the region overthrew a regional capital and proclaimed an independent government affiliated with the Somalian federal government.
