Ethiopia and the autonomous region of Somaliland signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday that would give Ethiopia access to the sea through Somaliland, according to Ethiopia’s state-run news agency, ENA.
The agreement was immediately rejected by the federal government of Somalia, which called it “illegal,” “null and void,” and a “flagrant violation” of the country’s sovereignty.
Somalia’s government also summoned its ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdullahi Mohamed Warfa, for consultations on the matter.
The agreement was signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi.
Abiy Ahmed’s office said the agreement would “pave the way for Ethiopia to achieve its aspiration of securing access to the sea and diversifying its access to seaports, and will strengthen the security, economic, and political partnership between the two sides.”
The agreement also calls for “strengthening the political and diplomatic relations between the two sides.”
Ethiopia is a landlocked country, meaning it does not have any land that borders the sea or ocean.
