US troubled with Ethiopia's red sea deal with Somaliland

FILE PHOTO-John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 17, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

WASHINGTON - The United States has yet again expressed concerns about the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, following the signing of a controversial deal, which has sparked outrage in the Horn of Africa region for the last two weeks.

Ethiopia signed a deal with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which would see the country getting 20 kilometers of the Red Sea, contrary to international codes of ethics. In return, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state.

But the US now says it is deeply troubled with the unfolding events, noting that it will sever relationships and affect trade within the region. The US is a close ally of Somalia and has been working closely with authorities to curb terrorism.

"We're certainly troubled," says John Kirby director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, adding: "As we've said many, many times, we support Somalia's sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and it's got to be respected."

The situation poses a national security concern, Kirby said, in that it could embolden Islamist al-Shabab militants that have long been the main antagonist in Somalia's brutal civil war.

"What we're particularly concerned about is this [Memorandum of Understanding] inked recently between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to disrupt the fight that Somalis, Africans, and regional international partners, including us, are waging against Al-Shabab," he said.

Recently, Somaliland said there would be no implementation of the deal until Ethiopia recognizes Hargeisa as a sovereign nation. Somaliland has been fighting for statehood for the last 30 years, but the International Commission maintains that the country is part of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE