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Somalia rejects proposed maritime deal among IGAD countries

Somalia Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Ali Omar Balad. (X)

By Hanifa Adan | Friday, April 12, 2024

Sing'oei suggested that the proposed deal aimed to provide landlocked Ethiopia with "stable and predictable access to maritime resources" while respecting Somalia's sovereignty.

Somalia has denied remarks by Kenya's Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Korir SingOei, regarding a proposed maritime agreement among countries in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Ali Omar Balad, Somalia's acting Foreign Affairs minister, dismissed the claimed plan as "completely unfounded," emphasising Somalia's unwavering commitment to its territorial integrity.

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"Reports of a maritime treaty involving Somalia and Ethiopia are completely unfounded. Somalia stands firm on its territorial integrity. We call for a focus on peace and stability in the region," he said.

The rebuttal follows remarks by Sing'oei, who informed Reuters about discussions within IGAD regarding a maritime agreement facilitated by Kenya.

Sing'oei suggested that the proposed deal aimed to provide landlocked Ethiopia with "stable and predictable access to maritime resources" while respecting Somalia's sovereignty.

Sing'oei also mentioned that Djibouti was aware of the agreement, highlighting its potential benefits for landlocked states in the region by enabling access to commercial ports through the sharing of marine resources among IGAD members with coastlines, particularly Somalia and Djibouti.

Sing'oei has also come out to refute the claims, stating that he was misunderstood.

"Complete misapprehension of our view and position on this matter. Our clear and unambiguous position on this question is respect for the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia," says Korir on his X platform.

Complete misapprehension of our view and position on this matter. Our clear and unambiguous position on this question is respect for the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic Somalia. https://t.co/uSEI42g9U4
— Korir Sing'Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) April 12, 2024

Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, met with his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, in Nairobi on Thursday.

President Ruto has been quietly engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the brewing dispute between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa over the latter's attempts to gain access to the sea through the breakaway Somaliland administration.

Their meeting also followed Somalia's recent expulsion of Ethiopia's ambassador in Mogadishu and the directive to shut down two consulates, one in the semi-autonomous Puntland region and the other in the breakaway Somaliland region, amid a disagreement over a port agreement.

Amidst ongoing developments, regional stakeholders and the international community are closely observing the situation, with a collective hope for a peaceful resolution. The focus remains on respecting the sovereignty of all nations involved while addressing legitimate concerns regarding landlocked states' access to vital maritime trade routes.