Ethiopia agrees to respect Somalia's sovereignty

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa on September 28, 2022. PHOTO | COURTESY | MFA ETHIOPIA

MOGADISHU, Somalia - After months of back and forth, the Federal Republic of Ethiopia has reportedly agreed to respect Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a move which could normalize relations between the two neighbours, who have been at loggerheads.

Diplomatic sources within Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs hint that Ethiopia has changed its tune and vowed to respect the people of Somalia and its territorial integrity. Ethiopia has been keen to encroach Somalia's sea shores through the breakaway region of Somaliland.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the second round of mediation talks between the two countries will kick off in Ankara next week. However, the meeting could be an avenue to rubber-stamp informal agreements which have been revealed by diplomatic sources.

This development signifies the rejection of the previous understanding between Abiy Ahmed and Muse Bihi. Ethiopia had signed an MoU with Somaliland which would grant it 20 kilometers of the Red Sea in exchange for recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

Additionally, Somalia has agreed to grant Ethiopia access to the sea, with the signing to be conducted by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). This agreement will be officially announced at the upcoming meeting in Ankara, as stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The latest developments confirm earlier suspicions that the Federal Government was aware of the Somaliland-Ethiopia agreement but rejected certain terms. The deal comes just days after President Hassan Sheikh and Somaliland President Bihi met in Djibouti with President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh.

Critics believe that the political noise and controversy surrounding the Federal Government was a deliberate attempt to mislead public opinion. Somalia. Ethiopia is a major security stakeholder in Somalia, having contributed to several soldiers serving in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Somaliland cut ties with Somalia over 30 years ago and has been running a parallel government with its central bank, but is not recognized globally. Somalia maintains the region remains part of its territorial integrity, noting that any encroachment will be met by force.

GAROWE ONLINE