US Voices its Support for Somalia’s Sovereignty

GOOBJOOG NEWS: The United States has added its voice to calls from various nations calling for the need to respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement released Tuesday, the United States National Security Council director of strategic communications John Kirby expressed his opposition to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Ethiopia and Somaliland saying it violates international laws.

“We’re certainly troubled,” said John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, in a press conference. “As we’ve said many, many times, we support Somalia’s sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and it’s got to be respected.”

Kirby added that the pact poses a risk to security at the Horn of Africa, where Somalia is combating the terrorist group Al-Shabab, which has carried out deadly attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries.

“What we’re particularly concerned about is this [Memorandum of Understanding] inked recently between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to disrupt the fight that Somalis, Africans and regional international partners, including us, are waging against al-Shabab,” he said.

Kirby said the US is working with its partners in the region and the international community to address the issue and to support the Somali government in its efforts to protect its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.