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Somalia threatens action if Ethiopia-Somaliland port deal goes through

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. (Photo: Villa Somalia)

By Mwangi Maina | 25 Feb 2024

Hassan has said he would only agree to discuss the matter with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when the government in Addis Ababa renounces its intention "to take part of our country".

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has threatened action if Ethiopia goes ahead with a deal to set up a naval base in the breakaway region of Somaliland and possibly recognise the territory as an independent state.

"If Ethiopia insists, Somalia will resist and will refuse... if they come into the country, Somalia will do everything that it can to defend itself," the Somali leader told Reuters in an interview in Mogadishu published on Saturday.

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On Jan 1, landlocked Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline in Somaliland, a territory that Somalia claims ownership of despite its effective autonomy since 1991.

The port deal led to massive discontent with the Somalian government.

The Somalia leader on January 6, signed a new law nullifying the pact between Addis Ababa and Hargeisa.

Hassan has said he would only agree to discuss the matter with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when the government in Addis Ababa renounces its intention "to take part of our country".

Tensions escalated between the two countries a week ago during the African Union summit following allegations by Somalia's President that Ethiopian security forces tried to bar him from attending the leader's forum in Addis Ababa.

The African Union has since called for dialogue to de-escalate the issue.

Some African and western countries have shown solidarity with Somalia reaffirming support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Hassan met with the EU ambassador to Somalia on Saturday, to discuss security, development, and Somalia's ongoing democratisation process.

During the meeting in Mogadishu, the envoy reiterated the EU's profound respect for Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.