Ethiopia pulls out of IGAD summit in Uganda over sea deal in Somalia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -  The Federal Republic of Ethiopia has pulled out of the meeting set to be held on Thursday in Uganda, following a controversial deal it signed with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which has been fighting for statehood.

Djibouti President Omar Guelleh, the chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), summoned a meeting to discuss the turmoil, with Uganda agreeing to host the meeting scheduled for 18th January 2024.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited the timeline as the obstacle to the planned meeting, arguing that the leadership had scheduled a different engagement for the day, thus the decision to skip.

"Regrettably, though, we find it difficult to attend the proposed meeting due to commitment to a prior engagement that overlaps with the scheduled meeting and the short notice extended to convene the extraordinary summit," read the statement.

"Nevertheless, Ethiopia stands ready to discuss an alternative date in line with rules of procedure governing meetings of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)," the statement noted.

The meeting was also set to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan, but the military rule has already ruled out attendance, further complicating issues in the Horn of Africa. Somalia has accused Ethiopia of plans to grab its land.

The agreement with Somaliland dictates that Ethiopia will get 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for its military base. In return, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, despite it remaining part of Somalia.

Several countries have condemned Ethiopia's expansionist ambitions, with the US expressing concerns about the conflict. The United States has expressed concerns over the step taken by Ethiopia, calling for order in the region.

GAROWE ONLINE