Somalia Accuses Ethiopia of Violating Territorial Integrity Amid Tensions Surrounding Somaliland
Somalia’s Prime Minister accuses Ethiopia of violating its territorial integrity due to Ethiopia’s plan to lease coastline from Somaliland. This situation arises amid Somalia’s rejection of Somaliland’s independence claims and concerns over an Ethiopian naval base. A military deal with Egypt and potential troop withdrawals add to the regional complexities.
In a significant escalation of tensions, Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, has publicly condemned Ethiopia for actions perceived as severe violations of Somali territorial integrity. This statement was made in the context of Ethiopia’s recent announcement to lease a stretch of coastal land from Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that Somalia does not recognize. Since Ethiopia indicated its intention to construct a naval base and commercial port in Somaliland earlier this year, Somalia has remained on high alert. Landlocked Ethiopia aims to gain direct access to the sea, yet this initiative has provoked strong opposition from the Somali government, which firmly rejects Somaliland’s independence claim, first made in 1991, and which has garnered scant international recognition. In his remarks at the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Barre stated, “Somalia currently faces a serious threat from Ethiopia’s recent actions which flagantly violate our territorial integrity.” He further characterized Ethiopia’s motives as unlawful and unnecessary, asserting that these actions attempt to annex a part of Somalia under the pretense of securing maritime access. Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, responded to these accusations by arguing that similar agreements have been executed by other nations without such hostile reactions, thereby implying that Somalia’s grievances are rooted in its internal political struggles. Moreover, in light of Ethiopia’s plans, Somalia has threatened to expel Ethiopian troops who have been serving in an African Union mission against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab since 2007. In a demonstration of its increasing militarization, Somalia has entered into a military cooperation agreement with Egypt, receiving shipments of weapons, which has raised alarm in Ethiopia over the potential for these arms to reach extremist factions. As the year comes to a close, the African Union mission is slated for a significant restructuring, with Egypt offering to succeed the Ethiopian contingent. This situation heightens the possibility that Somalia may demand the withdrawal of the approximately 10,000 Ethiopian troops stationed along their border to counter Islamist incursions.
The tension between Somalia and Ethiopia is rooted in longstanding geopolitical issues exacerbated by the situation in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that seeks independence yet is not widely recognized internationally. Ethiopia, which is landlocked, has an acute need for maritime access and has identified Somaliland’s coastline as a potential avenue to establish a naval presence. The Somali government views these developments as direct threats to its sovereignty, igniting fears of territorial loss and regional instability. The presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia since 2007, as part of an African Union initiative against militant Islamists, adds complexity to the relationship, complicating Somalia’s internal and external security dynamics.
The escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia center around Ethiopia’s proposed leasing of coastal territory in Somaliland, seen by Somalia as an infringement on its sovereignty. Somalia’s government, under Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, has made strong condemnations of these actions, which they perceive as illegal. The situation is exacerbated by Somalia’s military dealings with Egypt and the restructuring of the African Union mission, which may alter the presence of Ethiopian troops within Somalia. These developments could lead to significant changes in regional stability and security.
Original Source: www.bssnews.net
