Somalia Rejects Somaliland’s Naval Base Deal with Ethiopia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Federal Government of Somalia has said strongly rejects and opposes the move by Ethiopia to reach an agreement with Somalia, seeking to grant Addis Ababa a 50-year leasehold to construct a military base in the coastal port city of Berbera.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Somalia maintained that Somaliland is part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was against international laws.

“The Federal Government of Somalia considers this action as an aggression and an impediment to the good neighborliness, peace and stability of the region which is already struggling with many challenges. It is a blatant violation and interference on the independence, sovereignty, and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the official government statement reads.

Somalia further issued a warning to Ethiopia not to attempt to violate the sovereignty, independence and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia saying that Somalia is entitled to respond to the provocative action taken by Ethiopia through all legal processes and means.

“The Somali government, with the support of its people, is ready to defend, protect and preserve the sovereignty, dignity, territorial integrity, and social unity of its people.”

In the statement, Somalia issued a demand to the United Nations’ Security Council (UNSC), the African Union (AU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, IGAD and other partners to stand by Somalia’s right to protect its territorial integrity, and to demand Ethiopia to return to the confines of international laws.

“The Somali government demands the United Nations’ Security Council and the African Union to convene urgent meetings to discuss Ethiopia’s aggression and interference against the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the statement further reads.

Somalia also announced that it had recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for urgent consultation and that it will issue the necessary orders to protect its sovereignty and prevent violations against it, all government agencies and the Somali people are instructed to enforce this decision