Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated on Sunday that Egypt will not allow any threat to Somalia or its security, and that the agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland is rejected by all. Sisi is set to hold talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud about ways to enhance bilateral relations and regional situations between the two countries during his reception at the Ittihadiya Palace.
President el-Sisi described the agreement as unacceptable and affirmed Somalia’s right to defensive support within the framework of the Arab League charter, saying, “We will not allow a threat to the security of our brothers.”
On his part, the Somali President stated that the authorities would not allow the presence of foreign forces on their territory without an appropriate agreement.
Earlier this year, the separatist region of Somaliland signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia, granting Addis Ababa the right to use a 20-kilometer coastal front of Somali territory for 50 years. The Somali government condemned this agreement, stating it would counter it with all legal means and considering it an “aggression and blatant violation of its sovereignty.”
After two days of its signing, the Republic of Egypt announced its rejection of the memorandum, with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizing the full respect for the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia over its entire territory.
Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting to support Somalia, where they confirmed that the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement is a “blatant coup against the established Arab, African, and international constants, and a clear violation of international law.”
Ethiopian Minister of Energy and Water advisor Mohammed Al-Arrousi affirmed that the memorandum of understanding between Addis Ababa and the Somaliland region does not violate Somali law or sovereignty, describing it as a preliminary memorandum “that has not yet been implemented.”
Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed El-Orabi, President of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, stated on Friday that the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement threatens the entire Horn of Africa region. In his statements to the “Arab World News Agency,” he accused Ethiopia of seeking to dominate the Horn of Africa and impose its will on the region’s countries through its unilateral actions and agreement with the Somaliland region.
The agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which is a breakaway region of Somalia, has raised tensions in the Horn of Africa. This deal, signed at the beginning of 2024, allows Ethiopia to use Somaliland’s Red Sea port of Berbera. Ethiopia, a landlocked country, currently relies mainly on neighboring Djibouti for its maritime trade. This agreement is significant because Ethiopia would be the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent nation, as per the statement of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi.
This deal has been met with opposition from Somalia, which considers Somaliland as part of its territory. The Somali government has condemned the agreement, stating that it would counter it with all legal means, considering it as an aggression and a blatant violation of its sovereignty. Furthermore, Somalia regards this deal as a violation of its territorial integrity and has warned Ethiopia against interfering in its affairs.