Somalia insists that Ethiopia must annul its agreement with Somaliland, which permits the latter access to the Red Sea, before any formal talks can commence. Somalia views this agreement as a violation of its sovereignty. Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi made the government’s position clear at the UN General Assembly, emphasizing the need for Ethiopia to reverse this course to foster dialogue.
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali government has lodged a formal demand for Ethiopia to rescind an agreement with Somaliland before any productive discussions can occur between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. The Somali administration has been vocal in its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly in light of escalating tensions in recent weeks. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has unequivocally stated that there will be no formal engagement with Ethiopia until the aforementioned agreement is annulled. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland permits Ethiopia to have access to 20 kilometers of the Red Sea, conditional upon the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. This agreement has drawn significant criticism from the Somali government, which asserts that Somaliland is an inseparable part of its territory. Minister Fiqi expressed, “This reckless move undermines Somalia’s territorial integrity, and we see no indication that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is prepared to reverse course and engage in any meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue.” Discussions concerning this contentious issue were held recently in New York, where Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan met separately with both Minister Fiqi and his Ethiopian counterpart, Taye Atske. Despite Turkey’s efforts to mediate conversations between Somalia and Ethiopia, progress has been obstructed by Somalia’s firm insistence on the revocation of the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement. During the United Nations General Assembly, Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre reiterated this stance regarding the relationship with Ethiopia. Minister Fiqi labelled the situation a paradox, highlighting the contradictory nature of Ethiopian forces being present in Somalia under the pretense of peacekeeping while simultaneously undermining Somalia’s sovereignty through backdoor deals with Somaliland. He asserted, “We’re still giving Ethiopia a chance to walk back from this reckless agreement. If they nullify it and restore the status quo before January 1st, there’s room to talk.” Ethiopia is facing increasing pressure to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from Somalia, especially following Somalia’s announcement that the newly proposed African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) would be under Egyptian control.
The ongoing dispute between Somalia and Somaliland has deep historical roots, with Somaliland having declared independence in 1991, although it has not received international recognition as a separate nation. The relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia has been historically complex, often influenced by issues of territorial integrity, regional stability, and political alignments. Recently, the signing of an agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland has aggravated tensions, prompting the Somali government to reaffirm its claim over Somaliland and insist on the cancellation of the deal prior to engaging in any diplomatic discussions.
In summation, the Somali government has made it clear that it will not entertain discussions with Ethiopia unless the agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland is annulled. This demand underscores Somalia’s commitment to reclaiming its territorial integrity and sovereignty amidst rising tensions. Both nations find themselves at a diplomatic impasse, with Somalia’s insistence on the nullification of the deal creating significant barriers to future engagements.
Original Source: www.garoweonline.com
