Ethiopia’s landmark deal with Somaliland to provide Addis Ababa with access to the Red Sea has provoked furious reactions from both African Union and Somali. This follows the signing of an MoU to gain access to port facilities in Somaliland, as part of a process that could lead to Addis Ababa providing diplomatic recognition to Somaliland. But it provoked a furious response from Somalia, which insists that Somaliland is part of its sovereign territory.
African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat stressed “the imperative to respect the unity, territorial integrity and full sovereignty of all African Union member states.” There are already signs that the deal will be watered down. On Wednesday, Ethiopia said it would “make an in-depth assessment towards taking a position regarding the efforts of Somaliland to gain recognition” – a step some way short of immediate recognition. But it is likely to take an act of sustained diplomatic initiative by all parties – Ethiopia, Somalia and Somaliland – to find a mutually acceptable agreement in a difficult region.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry