On January 06, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a law nullifying the memorandum of understanding signed between the Government of Ethiopia and Somaliland.
The symbolic move comes as Ethiopia and a breakaway Somali region announced a deal on January 1st.
As part of the deal, Somaliland plans to lease a 20-km stretch of land along its coastline to Ethiopia to establish a naval base, Ethiopian Prime minister Abiy Ahmed said at the signing.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi said the agreement included a statement that Ethiopia would soon recognize the territory as an independent country.
That is where the bone of contention lies. Somaliland has always contested the legally binding character of the state of union which was to form a unified country after Somalia and Somaliland respectively gained independence from Italy and Britain.
Somalia has described the move as an act of “aggression” and recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia.
The AU chairperson urged Ethiopia and Soamlia to engage without delay in a negotiation process to settle their differences
Ethiopia lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993. Ethiopia has been using the port in neighboring Djibouti for most of its imports and exports.
Senior Somaliland officials have said the memorandum, which at this point isn’t legally binding, would also involve diplomatic recognition for Hargeisa, a long-sought goal for the self-declared republic.
Ethiopian officials have given mixed messages on this aspect of the deal, with several making arguments for Somaliland’s recognition, but none committing Ethiopia at this stage. A communique released by Addis Ababa said it would only make an “in-depth assessment” on taking a position on the issue.
The deal has faced significant international condemnation and has infuriated Somalia, which has described the move as an act of “aggression”.
Territorial integrity
Urging Ethiopia and Somaliland to reverse course, Somalia’s president said a “Somali territory cannot be exchanged for a [share] in a company like Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Telecom, GERD … even if you combine them we cannot swap for a territory”.
Somalia also recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia and has appealed to the international community for support.
The US state department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that the US, a significant aid and security partner of Somaliland and Somalia, recognises Somalia within its 1960 borders, which include Somaliland, and called on all parties to resolve their issues through dialogue.
On Thursday, the UK released a statement calling for “full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity”, urging “restraint and dialogue” to resolve issues. The spokesperson for Turkey’s foreign ministry also expressed its support for the “unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Somalia.