Wednesday May 1, 2024
Hargeisa (HOL) - The Somaliland government reiterated its commitment to completing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia within two months, despite Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed facing international pressure to cancel the deal.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Somaliland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Isse Keyd Mohamud, stated that negotiations between the two countries are ongoing. Technical committees have been established to facilitate finalizing the agreement between President Muse Bihi and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In January, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, acknowledged that his administration is under mounting international pressure to revoke its pact with Somaliland.
The agreement, which includes provisions for a 20-kilometre stretch of Somaliland's coastline for naval access in exchange for potential recognition of the self-declared republic, has been met with skepticism and alarm. Critics, including neighbouring countries and international organizations, view this as a potentially destabilizing act in a geopolitically sensitive region.
Somaliland seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago but is not recognized by the African Union (AU) or the UN as an independent state.