The decree, according to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, nullified the “illegal” agreement that granted landlocked Ethiopia long-desired access to the Red Sea through Somaliland, a breakaway province in northwest Somalia over which Somalia has no actual control.
The president posted on the social media platform X, which was formerly Twitter, that the bill’s adoption on Saturday night “is an illustration of our commitment to safeguard our unity, sovereignty & territorial integrity as per international law”.
The port agreement between regional giant Ethiopia and Somaliland, whose 1991 declaration of independence from Somalia is not recognized internationally, has drawn the vehement opposition of the central government in Mogadishu, which has promised to reject it by all legal means.
Somalia recalls envoy in anger over Ethiopia-Somaliland port deal
Somalia called the surprise pact signed on Monday an act of “aggression” and a violation of its sovereignty, and appealed for international support.
Although it vehemently rejects Somaliland’s independence claim, it actually has little influence over the operations of the de facto state, which possesses a lengthy coastline along one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, as well as its own government, security forces, and currency.
Although the government in Addis Ababa has not verified it, Somaliland’s leadership has stated that Ethiopia would “formally recognise the Republic of Somaliland” under the agreement.
The United States, the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League have all appealed for calm and the respect of Somalia’s sovereignty in light of the agreement’s increased tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Although it vehemently rejects Somaliland’s independence claim, it actually has little influence over the operations of the de facto state, which possesses a lengthy coastline along one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, as well as its own government, security forces, and currency.
Although the government in Addis Ababa has not verified it, Somaliland’s leadership has stated that Ethiopia would “formally recognise the Republic of Somaliland” under the agreement.
The United States, the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League have all appealed for calm and the respect of Somalia’s sovereignty in light of the agreement’s increased tensions in the Horn of Africa.
