Somalia-Ethiopia Ankara agreement does not bother us, Somaliland says

HARGEISA, Somalia - The new administration in Somaliland says it is not bothered with the recent agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia signed in Ankara, adding that it is mostly concerned with affairs that directly affect the internal affairs of the northern region of Somalia.

Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to re-evaluate their cooperation through diplomacy, ending the nearly 12-month tension that was triggered by the sea access MoU signed between Addis Ababa and the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mediated talks between the two countries and an agreement was reached requiring both sides to come up with a technical committee that could process Ethiopia's quest without infringement of Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

A spokesman for Somaliland's ruling party Waddani Mr Mohamed Farah Abdi said the Ankara agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia was of no relevance to Somaliland. He said the agreement has more to do with Ethiopia and Somalia and not Somaliland.

"The agreement in Ankara does not concern us. It is between two neighbours and we are Somaliland. It is fine and normal for two brotherly nations to engage, and agree. But it is of no relevance to us."

Turkiye, which had brokered talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, announced the two sides had reached a deal that would ensure “reliable, safe and sustainable access” to the sea for Ethiopia, “under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”

Before winning the November elections, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi alias Irro said the Waddani party could possibly review the agreement with Ethiopia after getting fine details of the MoU. During the handover, his predecessor, Muse Bihi Abdi, accused Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of "delaying our successes".

The Somaliland region still remains part of Somalia but it has been pushing for international recognition, and Ethiopia has offered to kickstart the process in exchange for 20 kilometres of access to the Red Sea for the construction of a military base and port.

GAROWE ONLINE