Somalia demands Ethiopia to cancel controversial deal with Somaliland

MOGADISHU – Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have escalated over a controversial maritime deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Somalia has declared that there is no room for mediation unless Ethiopia cancels the contentious agreement.

The dispute centers around a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on January 1, 2023, granting Ethiopia access to the sea through Somaliland.

In response, Somalia’s foreign ministry issued a statement, saying, “There is no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MOU and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.”

The African Union‘s conflict resolution body, the Peace and Security Council, addressed the crisis on Wednesday, calling on both nations “to exercise restraint, de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue towards finding a peaceful resolution of the matter.”

An extraordinary summit of the East African grouping IGAD is also being held in Uganda to discuss the Ethiopia-Somalia feud and the conflict in Sudan.

The international community, including the United States, European Union, China, and the Arab League, has emphasized the need to respect Somalia’s sovereignty.

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed concerns that the maritime deal could lead to a “revival” of Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that has been challenging the central government for over 15 years.

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit criticized the MOU as “a blatant attack against Arab, African, and international principles, and a clear violation of international law.”

The controversial pact involves Somaliland leasing 20 kilometers of its coast to Ethiopia for 50 years.

Ethiopia aims to establish a naval base and a commercial port on the Somaliland coast.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a self-governing region.

While not internationally recognized, Somaliland has its own government, security forces, and currency.

Ethiopia, one of Africa’s most populous countries and a significant landlocked nation, lost access to the coast in 1993 when Eritrea declared independence.

The recent maritime agreement has reignited historical tensions between Ethiopia and Mogadishu, which have a history of territorial disputes and conflicts.