FILE – On January 1, 2024, North Western State of Somalia’s President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came together in Addis Ababa to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) granting Ethiopia access to a North Western State of Somalia port.
As tensions swirl around the maritime dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asserted on Thursday that his nation is pursuing access to the Red Sea “through peaceful avenues.”
During a parliamentary session where lawmakers pressed him for clarity, Abiy articulated Ethiopia’s unwavering position on the matter.
“Let it be known across the globe, Ethiopia has a definitive national interest—securing access to the Red Sea through peaceful avenues,” he stated.
“Should our efforts fail, our future generations will carry the torch,” he added.
The diplomatic rift between Somalia and Ethiopia ignited after Addis Ababa’s January signing of the MOU with North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared independent territory, which Somalia perceives as a challenge to its sovereignty.
Officials from Ethiopia and North Western State of Somalia have championed the MOU. If fulfilled, it would grant North Western State of Somalia recognition from landlocked Ethiopia in exchange for leasing approximately 20 kilometers of its coastline.
At last month’s United Nations General Assembly, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre voiced concerns about the “grave threat” to Somalia from Ethiopia’s agreement with North Western State of Somalia regarding sea access.
Barre emphasized that Somali ports have historically served Ethiopia’s legitimate commercial ambitions but accused Ethiopia of harboring ulterior motives.
“Ethiopia’s attempts to coopt parts of Somalia under the pretext of securing sea access are not only unlawful but also unnecessary,” he remarked.
He cautioned that Ethiopia’s dealings with North Western State of Somalia might “ignite secessionist sentiments.”
On Thursday, Abiy dismissed any ambitions of annexation.
“We sought a 99-year lease when we signed the MOU with North Western State of Somalia; they didn’t accept, so we settled for a 50-year agreement,” he explained.
“How does a 50-year lease qualify as annexation?” Abiy questioned incredulously.
He reassured members of Parliament that Ethiopia has no hidden agenda in Somalia apart from securing maritime access.
“Ethiopia harbors the second-largest Somali population globally, right after Somalia. They are our kin,” he remarked.
Ethiopia maintains thousands of troops in Somalia, aiding its government in its campaign against Islamic extremists.
In a related development, Somalia expelled Ethiopian diplomat Ali Mohamed Adan on Tuesday, citing involvement in “activities counter to his diplomatic responsibilities.”
While the specifics of Adan’s alleged actions were not disclosed, Somalia’s statement indicated these actions “breach the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
During the parliamentary session, Abiy refrained from addressing the diplomat’s expulsion.
This report derived from VOA’s Horn of Africa service.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
