Turkey Presses Somalia to Accept the MoU Between Somaliland and Ethiopia
This week, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, has declared that forthcoming negotiations, characterized by their high stakes and potential for significant breakthroughs, are scheduled to begin next week. These negotiations are intended to address a multifaceted and potentially transformative agreement Continue reading “Turkey Presses Somalia to Accept the MoU Between Somaliland and Ethiopia”
South Africa Should be 2nd in Line Recognizing Somaliland, Following Ethiopia’s Historic Move
This article examines why South Africa could be the second country or first-line countries that recognizes Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state after Ethiopia and what the push is to include those countries. Continue reading “South Africa Should be 2nd in Line Recognizing Somaliland, Following Ethiopia’s Historic Move”
Somaliland Vehemently Rejects Deployment of Turkish Naval Forces in Its Maritime Zones
In a statement released today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland said it “vehemently rejects any potential deployment of Turkish naval forces within Somaliland’s recognized maritime zones.”
This comes in the backdrop of the recent announcement that Turkey was poised to send its navy support to Somali waters following an earlier agreement between Ankara and Mogadishu that will allow Turkey to send an exploration vessel off the coast of Somalia to prospect for oil and gas. Continue reading “Somaliland Vehemently Rejects Deployment of Turkish Naval Forces in Its Maritime Zones”
Somalia Ports Inaccessible to Ethiopia, Says Minister Kahin
The president of Somalia, Mohamud, said on Monday that although his administration does not oppose Ethiopia’s pursuit of the Red Sea access, it does disagree to the suggested path that entails signing an MoU with Somaliland. Continue reading “Somalia Ports Inaccessible to Ethiopia, Says Minister Kahin”
Ethiopian Naval Base in Somaliland: Strategically Important for Regional Security
The geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa has witnessed a transformative development with Somaliland and Ethiopia’s announcement of a potential Ethiopian naval base in Somaliland. This strategic move is not only aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Aden but also addressing broader Continue reading “Ethiopian Naval Base in Somaliland: Strategically Important for Regional Security”
‘Top Secret’ Talks in Nairobi on Somaliland MoU Saga
Presidents Ismail Omar Guelleh and William Ruto are facilitating “highly confidential” talks in Nairobi in a bid to find a way out for the impasse between Ethiopia and Somalia, sources at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) disclosed to The Reporter. Continue reading “‘Top Secret’ Talks in Nairobi on Somaliland MoU Saga”
Ethiopia Rejects Mogadishu’s Deal on MoU with Somaliland
This week, the Somalia Federal Government took steps to prevent the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia by approaching external powers to thwart the Somaliland MoU with Ethiopia. Continue reading “Ethiopia Rejects Mogadishu’s Deal on MoU with Somaliland”
Somalia’s Denial of Somaliland Won’t Rewrite the Books
When Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud took the stage at the 37th African Union Summit in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa on February 17th, 2024, his harsh criticism of the recent Ethiopia-Somaliland cooperation agreement displayed a short-sighted and counterproductive approach to a complex political issue with deep historical roots. Rather than advancing reconciliation, his remarks entrenched long-held positions and undermined opportunity for constructive engagement between key stakeholders in the Horn of Africa region. Continue reading “Somalia’s Denial of Somaliland Won’t Rewrite the Books”
On January 1st, 2024, Ethiopia and Somaliland announced a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which promises to reconfigure the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa. The MoU grants Ethiopia access to the sea, in which it will lease 20 kilometers of coastline. In return, Ethiopia has agreed to recognize Somaliland, which also is due to receive a stake in Ethiopian Airlines.
This agreement has significant implications for the foreign policy of Ethiopia towards Somalia, as it prioritizes its interests and those of Somaliland over historical ties with Somalia. The deal has been met with opposition from the Somalia government, which has declared it null and void. However, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the recognition marks a significant diplomatic milestone for the country. Relevant foreign actors and multilateral organizations have remained cautious in responding to the agreement, refraining from doing anything that might upset the status quo of Somalia’s De Jure authority, while also not explicitly condemning the contents of the agreement.
President Muse Bihi and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Cooperation and Partnership between Somaliland and Ethiopia, granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. During the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Abiy Ahmed stated, “We have agreed with our Somaliland brothers, and MoU has been signed today,”
President Muse Bihi of Somaliland declared that in accordance with the agreement, Ethiopia would be the first nation to acknowledge Somaliland’s independence in the near future.” By signing this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Somaliland will lease Ethiopia 20 kilometers of its coastline. In return, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland and receive a stake in Ethiopian Airlines.
This unprecedented agreement, if implemented, promises to alter the status quo of Ethiopia as a landlocked country and Somaliland as a de facto state, two long-pursued goals. The deal constitutes a significant shift in Ethiopia’s foreign policy towards Somalia, with Ethiopia, by formally recognizing Somaliland, signifying that it will prioritize its interests, as well as those of Somaliland, over its historical ties with Somalia.
Shortly after the agreement was reached, Somalia’s government issued a statement declaring the deal null and void because of its alleged violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity and unity.
According to Mogadishu, Somaliland is still considered part of Somalia, and any attempt to enter into an agreement with it is unlawful. In a statement released by Somalia, “The Somalia government recognizes Ethiopia’s actions as a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia”. In contrast, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement avowing that “recognition marks a significant diplomatic milestone for our country”. However, it is important to note that Somaliland and Somalia were two separate sovereign states at the outset of decolonization, prior to their unification under the Somali Republic in 1960, which came to an end in 1991 (historical contextual factors are explained below).
Several multilateral organizations have taken a stance on the issue, including the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), African Union (AU), European Union (EU), Arab League, and Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). While these organizations did not explicitly endorse the annulment of the agreement, they proposed diplomatic dialogue among all stakeholders. This approach supported Somaliland’s case that international recognition should be treated as a regional and international concern, rather than a local issue between Somaliland and Somalia. Major Powers, including the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Egypt, and Italy, also responded to the agreement, reinforcing their commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity and unity while refraining from condemning the content of the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia.
This article explores the relationship between these developments and Somaliland’s evolving approach to acquiring long-awaited international recognition. It argues that the Ethiopian-Somaliland Accord marks a turning point for both countries, with Somaliland poised to achieve international recognition and Ethiopia securing access to the sea. All signs indicate that the two countries are committed to implementing the agreement signed in Addis Ababa on January 1, 2024, and the success of the agreement will determine the future of regional integration and cooperation in the Horn of Africa.