Somaliland, the breakaway region, maintains that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia regarding access to the Red Sea has been finalized, but that both parties still need to finalize a legal agreement.
In Hargeisa, the Somaliland’s capital, diplomats were informed of the development by regional minister for foreign affairs and international relations Essa Kayd, who described it as “significant and imminent.”
A few months prior, Kayd had stated that the agreement was being implemented as planned, mentioning that only a few details needed to be finalized. The agreement is being worked on by a team of high-level advisors and a group of international legal experts.
Although Ethiopia has remained mostly silent about any real progress on the MoU since then, members of the ruling Prosperity Party (PP) Central Committee and Executive said in a resolution published in January that the party has chosen to bring the MoU “to a practical agreement”.
According to Ethiopian media, the PP stated that it was focusing on the give-and-take principles in the interim to obtain more options for port access with other surrounding nations. According to the ruling party, the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrated “Ethiopia’s position for regional economic and cultural ties.”
Somalia insists that it is against international law and its sovereignty to have signed the agreement giving Ethiopia 20 kilometers of access to the Red Sea. Somalia was opposed to the process.
The Ankara Process
Turkiye has begun mediating the dispute between the two nations, but so far there has been no progress, Somalia is adamant that the agreement be revoked. Somalia has proceeded to ink defense agreements with Egypt and Turkey with the aim of safeguarding its independence.
Dr. Kayd also conveyed on Wednesday the government of Somaliland’s grave concerns about Egyptian military forces deployed in neighboring Somalia. The government of Egypt has promised to protect Somalia from outside threats.
Ethiopia disputed the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) last week, claiming that the region is “fraught with dangers” as a result of the mission’s transition to a new peacekeeping force. Additionally, Ethiopia issued a warning, saying that it “cannot stand idle while other actors are taking measures to destabilize the region.”
“Ethiopia is keeping a close eye on regional developments that might endanger its national security”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Somalia’s decision to demand Ethiopian troops leave the country entirely has caused a polarization of responses within the country, with the Southwest characterizing the action as a plot to “bring the ‘Nile issue’ to Somalia” and possibly “lead to a war in the Horn of Africa.”
Somaliland Closes Egyptian Office in Hargeisa
The presence of Egyptian forces in Somalia, according to Dr. Kayd, “is contributing to proxy conflicts in the region.” She made this statement to the diplomatic mission today.
The Somaliland government “has decided to permanently close the “Egyptian Cultural Library” in Hargeisa due to serious security concerns,” according to a statement made earlier today by Dr. Kayd. According to press conference, all employees have been given a 72-hour notice to depart the nation.
