Somalia's Defense Minister Dismisses Somaliland-Ethiopia Pact as 'Illusion'

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Somalia's minister for defense, terms the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia as a 'daydream', adding that the arrangement will not materialize since Somalia will not allow its 'territorial integrity' to be violated.

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, had signed a deal with Ethiopia, which would see the landlocked nation getting 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for construction of the Naval Base and port, some of the investments it has yearned for a long time.

In return, Somaliland would be recognised as a sovereign country by Ethiopia, a move which has further incensed Somalia. The Horn of Africa nation has pointed an accusing finger at Ethiopia for what it terms an 'annexation' strategy.

And Mohamed Nur, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, maintains that Ethiopia must rescind a recent communication in the cabinet, which regularised the deal. No inch of Somalia will be taken by Ethiopia, he said.

“Ethiopia knows that it cannot take an inch of Somali territory. When someone dreams while awake, the outcome is predictable,” Noor said, adding that the country will be keen on the matter and possibly, employ military tactics.

Over the weekend, Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Industry Tarekegn Bululta recently posted on social media that he is confident Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland, a move which further confirms the weight of the matter.

“I am confident that Ethiopia will be the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent country,” he said, in a tweet on X social media network, which has since been deleted. It is not clear why he chose to delete the tweet.

The controversial January 1st Memorandum of Understanding which grants Ethiopia sea access and allows the establishment of a military base in Somaliland, has been seen by Somalia as a violation of its sovereignty. Somalia has threatened military actions.

Already, Mogadishu has entered military deals with Ankara, Abu Dhabi, and Cairo, a move geared towards protecting its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Horn of Africa nation has ruled out any meeting with Ethiopia until the deal is withdrawn.

GAROWE ONLINE