Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a law “nullifying” the deal over the contentious port agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland. The agreement, granting landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through Somaliland, was considered illegal by the Somali government. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, a claim not internationally recognized.
President Mohamud emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity as per international law through the passage of the bill on Saturday. The central government in Mogadishu has vehemently opposed the port agreement, characterizing it as an act of “aggression” and a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.
Despite Somalia’s objections, Somaliland, which operates with considerable autonomy, has its own government, security forces, and currency, along with a lengthy coastline along a major shipping route. The recent pact with Ethiopia, signed on Monday, raised tensions in the Horn of Africa, prompting Somalia to seek international support.
The memorandum of understanding provides Ethiopia with access to commercial maritime services and a military base. As part of the deal, Somaliland leases 20 kilometers (12 miles) of coastline to Ethiopia for 50 years. The agreement is significant for Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa and one of the largest landlocked nations globally. Ethiopia lost access to the coast when Eritrea declared independence in 1993 after a protracted three-decade war.
While Ethiopia previously had access to a port in Eritrea, the relationship soured when the two nations went to war in 1998-2000. Since then, Ethiopia has relied heavily on Djibouti for its trade routes. The recent pact with Somaliland provides Ethiopia with an alternative maritime route and has geopolitical implications in the region.
The African Union, United States, European Union, and the Arab League have called for calm and urged respect for Somalia’s sovereignty. The Somali government has declared its intent to oppose the port agreement through legal means, emphasizing its commitment to international law and principles.
