JidbaaleSomalia’s prime minister on Friday condemned Ethiopia’s measures that “flagrantly violate” Somalia’s territorial integrity following Addis Ababa’s startling announcement that would lease a stretch of coastline from the breakaway territory of Somaliland.
Somalia has vowed to throw out Ethiopian soldiers stationed for an African Union operation against Al-Shabaab insurgents since 2007 © Leonardo Munoz / AFP
The region has been on notice since January, when Ethiopia stated it wanted to develop a naval base and commercial port in the area.
Landlocked Ethiopia has long coveted its own sea access, but the move incensed Somalia, which refuses to recognize Somaliland’s claim to independence that it initially announced in 1991 and has gained little international backing.
“Somalia currently faces a serious threat from Ethiopia’s recent actions, which flagrantly violate our territorial integrity,” Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre stated at the UN General Assembly.
“Ethiopia’s attempt to annex part of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access is both unlawful and unnecessary,” he added.
“Similar agreements have been concluded by other states, and there is no reason for the government of Somalia to incite hostility that obviously intends to cover internal political tensions,” he told the General Assembly.
In reaction to Ethiopia’s proposal, Somalia has vowed to kick out Ethiopian soldiers stationed for an African Union operation against Al-Shabaab insurgents since 2007.
