Somalia Urges AU, UN to Take ‘Principled Position’ on Ethiopia-Somaliland Deal

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somali government has called on the African Union and the United Nations to take a ‘principled’ stance on the controversial Memorandum of Understanding between the break-away region of Somaliland and Ethiopia.

In a statement Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged the two inter-governmental organisations to condemn Ethiopia’s aggression into Somalia.

“We call upon member states of the African Union, as well as the United Nations to take a principled position on the illegal MOU and denounce Ethiopia’s unwarranted aggression against Somalia’s sacrosanct sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” the statement read in part.

The statement also noted, ‘Somalia has always taken a principled position on the protection of the sovereignty of all UN and AU member states.’

Somalia said it remained ‘committed to peaceful regional relations and expects adherence to international laws, affirming our right to respond to any actions that challenge our sovereignty. We trust in the international community’s support against such violations.’

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the MoU which has been widely condemned, was meant to divert attention from Somalia’s ‘successful completion of the debt relief process, coupled with the lifting of the 30-year-long UN arms embargo and the ascension into the East African Community (EAC), a vibrant regional bloc, were some of the notable achievements that Somalia registered in 2023.’

Further, the statement noted that the country’s constitution and other national laws, grant no powers to any regional administration in Somalia, including Somaliland to enter into an agreement with another country. 

This illegal MOU is a clear violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. Moreover, Ethiopia’s unprovoked action is a dangerous breach of international law and the norms of cooperation between sisterly countries, Somalia said.

Ethiopia and Somaliland signed an MoU on January 1, granting it access to the Red Sea port in exchange for international recognition.