Ethiopia defends Somaliland deal as Somalis protest

NAIROBI: Ethiopia insisted on Wednesday that its controversial deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland broke no laws after Somalia accused its neighbor of a blatant attack on its sovereignty. The agreement, signed in Addis Ababa on Monday, has raised concerns about the stability of the turbulent Horn of Africa region.

Hundreds of people joined a demonstration in Mogadishu to denounce the pact that gives Ethiopia, one of the biggest landlocked countries in the world, long-sought access to the Red Sea. Addis Ababa defended the agreement, saying other countries had done deals with Somaliland in the past, but the Arab League and Egypt said they backed Somalia’s stance.

East African regional grouping IGAD voiced its “deep concern” about the developments, while the European Union insisted Somalia’s sovereignty should be respected. Mogadishu has vowed to defend its territory “by any legal means” and called for urgent meetings of the UN Security Council and the African Union to discuss Ethiopia’s “aggression”.

In a Mogadishu stadium, hundreds of people, mainly students, joined a demonstration, waving banners declaring “Our sea is not for sale and we will not allow to lose an inch of our land”. “These people feel that their unity has been violated,” Mogadishu mayor Yusuf Hussein Jimalehe told the rally. “They feel that part of their land is to be looted and they have gathered here to reject that aggressive ambition.”

The demonstrators chanted slogans against Somaliland president Muse Bihi

Abdi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who signed deal. Ethiopia and Somalia have a history of stormy relations and territorial feuds, fighting two wars in the late 20th century.

Somaliland’s Bihi had said in a statement that in exchange for the sea access, Ethiopia would “formally recognize” Somaliland. But the Ethiopian government has not confirmed this assertion. It said in a statement the deal “includes provisions for the Ethiopian government to make an in-depth assessment towards taking a position regarding the efforts of Somaliland to gain recognition”.

But it said that despite Somaliland not having full recognition, it has nevertheless signed agreements with various countries, including on port development. “Yet there has been no murmur or complaint when this materialized,” it added. “No party or country will be affected by this MOU. There is no broken trust nor is there any laws that have been transgressed.”