Somaliland Affirms MoU with Ethiopia Despite New Agreements with Somalia
Officials from Somaliland insist that their MoU with Ethiopia remains valid, even amid the recent Ankara Declaration that aims to provide Ethiopia with access to the sea. They maintain that their agreement is independent of the negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, emphasizing their commitment to pursuing international recognition and asserting their sovereign interests.
The breakaway region of Somaliland emphasizes that its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia persists despite recent developments involving an agreement between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa. This agreement followed a mediation led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and aims to establish Ethiopia’s access to the sea, raising tensions with Somaliland. Somaliland officials assert their MoU remains valid and separate from the ongoing negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, reinforcing their pursuit of international recognition. Abdulahi Mohammud, a Somaliland official, underscored that the interactions between Somalia and Ethiopia do not involve Somaliland, affirming their determination to uphold their MoU with Ethiopia independently.
In a complex geopolitical landscape, Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has sought recognition as a sovereign state. The recent Ankara Declaration represents a renewed agreement between the Somali government and Ethiopia, facilitating Ethiopian access to the sea while raising significant concerns for Somaliland. As Ethiopia’s ambitions to negotiate maritime access take center stage, Somaliland has reacted by reaffirming the validity of its MoU with Ethiopia, thus highlighting the intricacies of regional politics, sovereignty, and diplomatic relations.
In summary, despite the ongoing negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia potentially undermining the previous MoU, Somaliland remains resolute in its assertion that its agreement with Ethiopia is intact. By prioritizing its dialogue with Ethiopia and rejecting external influences, Somaliland aims to solidify its standing on the international stage while navigating the challenges posed by evolving regional alliances.
Original Source: www.garoweonline.com
