AU calls for 'mutual respect' in brewing diplomatic row over Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The African Union (AU) has called for "calm and mutual respect" to de-escalate the simmering tension between Ethiopia and Somalia following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by them under which landlocked Ethiopia will secure access to seaports in Somaliland.
A statement by the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Thursday said he had been closely following the tension resulting from signing of the MoU and urged the two countries "to refrain from any action that unintentionally may lead to a deterioration of the good relations between the two neighbouring Eastern African countries".
He stressed the imperative to respect unity, territorial integrity and full sovereignty of all AU member states, including the Federal Republic of Somalia and Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Furthermore, the Chairperson underscored the importance of adhering to the norms of good neighbourliness to promote and consolidate peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa region.
Faki Mahamat urged the two countries to engage without delay in a negotiation process to settle their differences "in the most constructive, peaceful and collaborative manner" to consolidate and deepen their cooperation to serve peace and security in the region.
He reaffirmed that the AU would stand strongly on their side to encourage an African solution to this new African tension.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi said his government had agreed under the MoU signed in Addis Ababa on Monday to give Ethiopia access to a 20-km leased land along the Red Sea in return for Addis Ababa recognizing the break-away Somali region.
The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted the Office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister as saying the MoU for Partnership and Cooperation was intended to serve as "a framework for the multi-sectoral partnership between the two sides".
"The MoU shall pave the way to realize the aspiration of Ethiopia to secure access to the sea and diversify its access to seaports. It also strengthens their security, economic and political partnership," Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
Furthermore, it indicates the pathway to bolster their political and diplomatic relations.
However, Somalia's leaders on Tuesday condemned the MoU with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre rejecting it as "illegal" and an “absurd violation” of the country’s sovereignty.
Somaliland, a region in Somalia, broke away in 1991.
“As a Government, we have condemned and rejected the illegal infringement of Ethiopia into our national sovereignty and territorial integrity (yesterday),” Mohamud wrote on X.
“Not an inch of Somalia can or will be signed away by anybody. Somalia belongs to the Somali people. This is final,” he said.
Prime Minister Barre said on Tuesday the government would "defend the country".
“I want to confirm that we are committed to defending the country. An inch of our land, sea and air cannot be violated,” the Somali premier said following an emergency cabinet meeting.
“We are able to defend our country as we have done before. This time, we want to be united and set aside differences between Somalis.”
Ethiopia lost access to the sea when Eritrea broke away in 1993 following a long war and it now relies on Djibouti for its maritime trade. Under the MoU, it will use Somaliland's Red Sea port of Berbera.
Somaliland President Abdi is quoted as saying that, as part of the agreement, Ethiopia would be the first country to recognize the country as an independent nation following its breakaway from Somalia in 1991.
Somaliland is an unrecognized sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, recognized internationally as de jure part of Somalia.
Somaliland has not gained widespread international recognition despite declaring autonomy from Somalia in 1991. Somalia says Somaliland is part of its territory.
-0- PANA MA/RA 4Jan2024
