US, AU Urges Somalia and Ethiopia to Resolve rising Tension

GOOBJOOG NEWS: The African Union and the United States have called on Somalia and Ethiopia to resolve the heightening diplomatic tension following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland that grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea.

The MoU, signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi on Monday, was denounced by Somalia as an “aggression” and a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somalia also summoned its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations over the matter.

In a statement released Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US was alarmed by the spike in tensions in the region and urged all parties to engage in diplomatic dialogue.

“We did see those reports, we are concerned by them, we join other partners in expressing our serious concern as well about the resulting spike in tensions in the Horn of Africa, we urge all stakeholders to engage in diplomatic dialogue, and the United States recognizes the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the federal republic of Somalia within its 1960 borders,” Miller said.

Mutual Respect

Elsewhere, African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, also expressed his concern over the tension arising from the Memorandum of Understanding, appealing for calm and mutual respect to ease the friction between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Mr. Mahamat called on the two countries to avoid any action that could harm the good relations between the two neighboring Eastern African countries.

He emphasized the need to respect the unity, territorial integrity and full sovereignty of all African Union member states, including Somalia and Ethiopia.

The AU Chairman also highlighted the importance of following the principles of good neighborliness to foster and maintain peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa region.

He appealed to the two countries to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences in a peaceful manner so as to strengthen and deepen their partnership for the sake of peace and security in the region.

He reaffirmed that the African Union would stand firmly by their side to support an African solution to this new African challenge.

However, the deal has also raised concerns over the potential impact on the stability and security of the Horn of Africa, which is already facing multiple challenges, such as the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan, and the threat of the militant group al-Shabab in Somalia.

Some analysts have warned that the Ethiopia-Somaliland deal could further strain the relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, which have already been tense over the disputed maritime boundary and the role of Ethiopia in Somalia’s internal politics.

Somalia has accused Ethiopia of interfering in its electoral process and supporting the leaders of some federal member states who have opposed the central government. Ethiopia has denied the allegations and said it respects Somalia’s sovereignty and supports its unity.

The Ethiopia-Somaliland deal could also affect the prospects of dialogue and reconciliation between Somalia and Somaliland, which have been stalled for years. The African Union has been mediating between the two sides, but the talks have made little progress.