Somalia has called for a unified and robust Arab position to address Ethiopia’s alleged violation of Somali sovereignty.
This appeal comes ahead of an emergency meeting of the Arab League’s foreign ministers, scheduled for next Wednesday via video conference.
The meeting aims to discuss the implications of the memorandum of understanding signed by Ethiopia with the separatist “Somaliland” region, granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea.
Ethiopia, which has been landlocked for the past 30 years following Eritrea’s independence in 1993, is seeking to secure a maritime outlet.
The memorandum of understanding signed on January 1 allows Ethiopia access to 20 kilometers of Somaliland’s coastline for 50 years through a leasing agreement.
Elias Sheikh Omar Abu Bakr, Somalia’s ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the Arab League, emphasized the importance of the upcoming Arab League meeting to “formulate a unified Arab stance against Ethiopia’s violation of Somali sovereignty on its territory.”
He stressed that “Somaliland is an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
The Somali representative praised the Arab League’s efforts in convening the emergency ministerial meeting to support Somalia and show solidarity in its current crisis.
He also commended the supportive positions of all Arab and friendly nations that have expressed solidarity with Somalia against Ethiopia.
He called on Arab states to “issue a strong resolution declaring the Ethiopian memorandum of understanding null and void, affirming solidarity with Somalia in taking measures to confront this blatant Ethiopian interference in its internal affairs.”
He also proposed tasking the Arab Group at the United Nations to reiterate the Arab stance rejecting Ethiopian interventions in Somalia’s internal affairs.
Abu Bakr emphasized that “Somalia will not relinquish an inch of its territory” and will take all necessary actions to counter this Ethiopian intervention, which he sees as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and unity, conflicting with international laws and norms.
According to the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, the Arab meeting is being held at the request of Somalia, with the support of 12 Arab states, and will be chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco, the current president of the Arab League’s regular session.
