The Somali government on Tuesday condemned an agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland.
The deal agreed on Monday would see Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea and its key trade routes – a region on the northern strip of the Horn of Africa that seeks independence from Somalia – in return for formal recognition of Somaliland.
Somali authorities said Somaliland remains part of Somalia according to the constitution. Therefore, “Somalia considers this move as a clear violation of its sovereignty and unity,” the government said in a statement.
What was the deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland?
Somaliland has agreed to allow neighboring landlocked Ethiopia use of its Red Sea port of Berbera.
It will also lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of sea access for 50 years while allowing Ethiopia to build a military base on the coast, Ethiopian national security adviser Redwan Hussein said.
Addis Ababa previously relied on Djibouti for its maritime trade after it lost access to the coast following a three-decade war with its own breakaway region, Eritrea, which gained independence in 1993.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had declared his goal to secure access to the Red Sea, sparking concerns among neighbors and the general public about further conflict in the region.
In return, Ethiopia would be the first country to recognize the independence of the Republic of Somaliland.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on Monday by Abiy and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi.
How did Somalia react?
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called the surprise deal a “disgrace against international norms and laws” in a speech to parliament on Tuesday.
“This is not an agreement, but a violation of our existence as a country,” he said.
The move came after the Somali government resumed dialogue with officials in Somaliland. Mohamud also stressed that Somalia has tried to work with Ethiopia to create a better future for both countries.
After an emergency meeting, the Council of Ministers called on the UN Security Council and the African Union to intervene.
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Even the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab weighed in, condemning the deal and pledging to “defend our land and sea with our blood.”
Somaliland, a region of about 3.5 million people, declared independence in 1991 and has since been spared much of the violence that groups like al-Shabab perpetrated throughout the rest of Somalia.
ab/dj (dpa, Portal, AFP)