(07-01-24) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) — A group of federal lawmakers and ministers from the Awdal region in northern Somalia have openly opposed the recent sea access agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, following an intense meeting held in Mogadishu on Sunday. The controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which has sparked widespread protests, was the central topic of the discussions.
Minister Hagaa, voicing the collective sentiment of the Awdal representatives, asserted, “Not an inch of Somalia can or will be signed away by anybody. Somalia belongs to the Somali people.” He appealed to the people of the northern regions, urging them to reject the deal that permits Ethiopia a share of Somalia’s maritime territory.
The call for unity was echoed as they implored all Somali citizens, particularly those in the north, to stand together to protect their land and sea. This firm stance follows the recent public demonstrations in Burao on Saturday and Lughaya on Sunday, where citizens protested against the Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a law last night, effectively annulling the agreement made by the autonomous region of Somaliland to provide Ethiopia with access to the Red Sea. This move by Somaliland was initially intended in exchange for recognition as an independent state.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has been vocal about his aspiration to secure a Red Sea port, a strategy that has heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa. This ambition is seen as a potential trigger for new conflicts in an already fragile region.
Halqabsi News
