Somali Cabinet in Emergency Meeting Following Ethiopia-Somaliland Naval Base Deal

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Somali Cabinet is holding an emergency meeting this morning to deliberate on the Red Sea Deal signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland last evening.

Sources have indicated that Prime Minister Hamze Barre convened the meeting to decide on appropriate response on the new development, which local leaders have termed as ‘provocative.’

Somaliland President Muse Bihi said in a joint presser with PM Abiy Ahmed Tuesday evening that Addis Ababa will have access to 20 kilometres of the coast to establish a military base. The lease, Bihi said would run for 50 years.

READ ALSO: Ethiopia Inks ‘Provocative’ Red Sea Access Deal with Somaliland for Recognition

He added that in return, Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state.

Local leaders have condemned the MoU and called for a speedy response from the Federal Government.