The Somali Foreign Ministry has called on African Union and United Nations members to take a principled stance on the “illegal” Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ethiopia and the separatist region of Somaliland, condemning Ethiopia’s “unjustified aggression” against Somali sovereignty.
In a statement published on the “X” platform, the ministry reiterated Somalia’s outright rejection of the so-called MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland, labeling it “illegal,” a “blatant violation of Somali sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” and a “serious violation of international law.”
The ministry also warned that Ethiopia’s actions threaten the stability of the Horn of Africa region and urged AU and UN member states to condemn Ethiopia’s unjustified aggression and take a principled stance on the illegal MoU.
According to the “Arab World News Agency,” the Somali Foreign Ministry affirmed Somalia’s commitment to peaceful regional relations, expecting other parties to adhere to international laws and asserting Somalia’s right to respond to any actions challenging its sovereignty.
Somaliland, a region that unilaterally declared independence, has not been recognized by any country, and the Somali government opposes Somaliland’s independence claim.
Somaliland and Ethiopia signed the MoU in early January, with Ethiopia expressing its intention to discuss recognizing Somaliland’s independence in exchange for access to the Red Sea through a stake in the Berbera Port.
The agreement faced negative reactions from Arab countries, including Egypt, whose President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated that Egypt “will not allow any threat to the Somali state or its security and sovereignty.”
Arab foreign ministers, during a recent emergency meeting in support of Somalia, described the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement as a “blatant coup” against established Arab, African, and international norms and a clear violation of international law and binding international agreements.
The tension between Somalia and Ethiopia has escalated following an agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland, which allows Ethiopia to use a major port in Somaliland with access to the Red Sea. Somalia has rejected the pact, viewing it as an infringement on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The agreement signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi would enable Ethiopia to lease land around the port of Berbera for 50 years for both naval and commercial purposes. In return, Somaliland expects recognition as an independent nation from Ethiopia, marking a significant move since Somaliland declared autonomy from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition.
