Somalia knocks down new mediation efforts to resolve crisis with Ethiopia and Somaliland

Insists on the unconditional dissolution of the agreement between Addis Ababa and Hargeisa in the face of attempts by Kenya and Uganda to bring the parties closer

Dec. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Government of Somalia has ended new international mediation efforts to resolve its conflict with Ethiopia and the Somali separatist state of Somaliland practically within hours of beginning by demanding the immediate dissolution of the “understanding agreement” between the Ethiopian authorities and Somalilanders as an unconditional step before any conversation.

This past Saturday, the presidents of Kenya and Uganda, William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni, announced during the summit of heads of state of the East African Community a new attempt to mediate the crisis caused by the signing in January of a pact by which Somaliland offers Ethiopia access to the sea in exchange for political recognition that the Somali government considers absolutely intolerable.

As the months have passed, Somalia has been getting closer to Egypt, which has been in conflict with Ethiopia for years over the construction of the enormous Renaissance Dam on Ethiopian soil, and expanding a crisis that seriously threatens the Horn of Africa.

“Somalia welcomes the efforts of regional leaders to maintain peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa region,” said the Somali ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali Hasan, but the position remains the same. : Unless the memorandum of understanding of January 1, 2024 is declared null and void, we will continue to demand respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia.

“All attempts to resolve the problem were useless due to Ethiopia’s infidelity,” the ambassador stressed in a statement published on his X social network account.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has previously ruled out the possibility of entering into negotiations with Ethiopia unless the deal is scrapped. “This reckless move undermines Somalia’s territorial integrity,” Fiqi said in a recent statement. “We will not engage in talks until Ethiopia changes course and respects Somalia’s sovereignty.”