WASHINGTON: The United States and the Arab League have rejected a Red Sea access agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, adding the deal violates Somalia’s sovereignty.
In a statement the Arab League said that it “rejects and denounces any memorandums of understanding (MoU) that violate Somalia’s sovereignty”.
The Arab League also warned against exploiting the situation “to extract part of Somali territory in violation of the principles and rules of global law.”
US, Arab League Denounce Ethiopia-Somaliland Red Sea Agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked on Monday between Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, giving Ethiopia access to Red Sea ports.
Somalia rejected Ethiopia’s Red Sea deal with Somaliland and called the deal a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to good neighbourliness.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also called his Egyptian President late on Tuesday in the wake of the recent tensions between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu concerning the agreement.
Similarly, the United States (US) also rejected global recognition for breakaway Somaliland and called for calm following the region’s leaders inked an agreement with Ethiopia.
The US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that they joined other partners in expressing their serious concern. He added that they urged all stakeholders to engage in diplomatic talks.
