Somalia to Ethiopia: ‘reaffirm’ Somalia’s ‘sovereignty and territorial integrity’ first if you want talks

By Star Staff Writer

The Somali government has ruled out any talks with Addis Ababa until Ethiopia reaffirms its respect for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and walks backs an “illegal” deal with a rebellious northern region that could have granted the landlocked country a naval base along the Red Sea coastlines.

Mogadishu is under enormous pressure from the public to sever diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, which invaded the country in 2006. The diplomatic row has so far shown little sign of abating, as Ethiopia defies international law and blatantly persists in its policy of dealing with Somalia’s rebellious northern region.

“Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has been violated by Ethiopia when it signed an illegal MOU [memorandum of understanding] with the northern region (Somaliland Administration) in Somalia…. For that reason, there is no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MOU and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia,” said Somalia’s ministry of foreign affairs in a statement on Thursday.

The Somali statement came less than a day after the African Union expressed a “deep concern” over Ethiopia’s unilateral MOU with a Somali region that has since led to a diplomatic row between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.

The AU said it’s worried about the tension’s “potential adverse impact on peace, security and stability of the region.”

The diplomatic row has particularly alarmed many in the region, which is already wracked by tensions among its countries. The two countries fought several wars in the past, most notably the Ogaden war in 1977.

The AU “unequivocally reaffirmed its strong commitment and support for preserving unity, territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty” of Somalia, said the continental body in a statement that was issued after it had listened to the viewpoints of the representatives of both Somalia and Ethiopia.

Somalia’s and the AU’s positions represent a major blow to Ethiopia’s narrative that its interaction with the Hargeisa-based clan entity was lawful. No nation – even Ethiopia — has officially recognized the clan administration as an independent country since its quest for statehood started in 1991.

On Jan. 1, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Hargeisa entity chief, Muse Bihi, surprised many in the region when they announced a deal that could have allowed Addis Ababa to take a 50-year lease on a 20 kilometer land along the Red Sea coastlines.

The Somali government — as well as the public — has furiously objected to the deal and called it a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mogadishu recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa and on Wednesday sent an Ethiopian plane headed to the rebellious northern region back to Addis Ababa.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority said “the plane had no permission to use the Somali airspace.”

Ethiopia, which has troops in Somalia under the AU peacekeeping mission, has been dismissive of the Somali government’s position and brazenly continued to engage with Hargeisa.

On Jan. 8, Ethiopia’s army chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, met with Hargeisa’s Maj. Gen. Nuh Ismael Tani and discussed what the Ethiopian army called “issues of military cooperation between the two sides.”

The AU’s Peace and Security Council urged Ethiopia and Somalia to “refrain from further actions and pronouncements that could negatively impact the strong bonds of good neighborliness, friendship and solidarity existing between them.”

It also called on the two neighbors to “adhere to and be guided by the core principles of the AU and international law in their bilateral and international relations.”

Although the Somali government welcomed the AU’s affirmation of its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, it has rejected any talks with Addis Ababa as long as Ethiopia believes that its MOU with Hargeisa was lawful.

“Somalia stands ready to engage with all member states of the AU, UN, and IGAD on a mutually beneficial relationship that is grounded on international law that can lead to economic development and shared prosperity,” said Somalia’s ministry of foreign affairs in its statement.

The Addis Ababa-Hargeisa MOU was roundly condemned by the international community, which expressed strong support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, has held an extraordinary submit in Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday to discuss Sudan and Ethiopia’s violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The eight-nation bloc reaffirmed “the cardinal principles of respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia; and any engagement should uphold the above cardinal principles, and any agreement or arrangement should be with the consent of the Federal Government of Somalia,” said a communique issued after the meeting.

IGAD also called on Ethiopia and Somalia to “de-escalate tensions and instead engage in constructive dialogue.”

Ethiopia boycotted the summit due to what it called “a prior engagement that overlaps with the scheduled meeting and the short notice extended to convene the extraordinary summit.”

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who met with the CIA Director, William J. Burns, on Wednesday, attended the IGAD summit.

His office said in a message on X, formerly Twitter, that he would “push for efforts to safeguard regional stability & respect for sovereignty & territorial integrity.”

The U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, also attended the session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Hammer is expected to travel to Addis Ababa to “coordinate efforts on Sudan and other regional priorities.”

“The United States welcomes this IGAD diplomatic initiative and reiterates U.S. recognition of the Federal Republic of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its 1960 borders,” the State Department said in a statement on Wednesday.

In his remarks during an open session of the meeting, Hammer welcomed the AU’s Wednesday communique on the row between Somalia and Ethiopia.

He said the US “recognizes the Federal Republic of Somalia’s sovereignty, its unity and its territorial integrity, which includes Somaliland.” He said the “status of Somaliland is an issue for Somalis and Somalilanders to decide.”

“We are troubled by what is reportedly included in this MOU,” Hammer said. “We join the chorus of voices in the region and internationally affirming our respect for Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence consistent with the UN Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.”

Hammer expressed concern about the possibility that the tension created by the MOU could “disrupt” the ongoing war against al Shabab militants.

“We have already seen troubling indications that al Shabab is using the MOU to generate new recruits,” he said.

Hammer urged both Ethiopia and Somalia “to remain focused on this shared security priority” and avoid “precipitous actions” that could create an opportunity for al Shabab and help it expand its reach “within Somalia and into Ethiopia.”

“It’s critical for the governments in this region to maintain working relationships and close dialogue with each other to address shared challenges,” he said. “The region can ill afford further conflict.”

According to the State Department, Hammer will urge Ethiopian officials to direct their attention to their country’s burning internal issues.

“He will also discuss with Ethiopian officials the urgent need to continue implementing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on northern Ethiopia, including making progress on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration and moving forward with a victim-centered transitional justice process,” said the State Department. “Ambassador Hammer will urge dialogue to address the political and security crises in the Amhara and Oromia regions, calling on all parties to protect civilians, refrain from incendiary rhetoric, and respect human rights.

For its part, the AU’s Peace and Security Council said it had assigned its High Representative for the Horn of Africa and Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo the task of fostering “dialogue” between Somalia and Ethiopia. Obasanjo would “provide regular updates to the Council,” it said.

The Council called on Ethiopia and Somalia to “exercise restraint, de-escalate and engage in meaningful dialogue towards finding a peaceful resolution of the matter, in the spirit of African solutions to African problems.”

It also urged “external actors to abide by the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of the two AU Member States.”