The Ethiopian government is looking into withdrawing its recognition of Somaliland after regional tensions, and amid a bid to mend ties with Somalia. Source .
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Ethiopia is contemplating abandoning its plan to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, sources familiar with the matter reported, in response to escalating international pressure urging Ethiopia to reconsider its decision, which has sparked regional tensions.
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, initially entered into an agreement with Somaliland in January, marking it as the first country that would have recognized the semi-autonomous region’s sovereignty. as published in a report broadcast in bloomberg.com fquoted by news Agencies.
The deal promised Ethiopia 50 years of access to the Gulf of Aden. However, the accord triggered a wave of discontent among neighboring nations, with Somalia vehemently opposing the move and other countries, including Egypt, urging caution.
The Somali government was steadfast in its position that Somaliland is an integral part of the country and declared its intention to hold an emergency meeting of its cabinet in response to the memorandum of understanding, as reported by the state news agency Sonna.
Ethiopia is considering scrapping a plan to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, amid international pressure to defuse regional tensions over the proposal, according to people familiar with the matter accoding to bloomberg.com
Landlocked Ethiopia signed an initial agreement with Somaliland in January that would make it the first nation to recognize the sovereignty of the semi-autonomous region of Somalia, in return for 50 years of access to the Gulf of Aden. The accord triggered an uproar in neighboring countries, with Somalia saying it would defend its territorial integrity and Egypt and other nations urging caution.
On the other hand, The MoU was signed on the 1st of 2024, and it was planned to be implemented within a month, but it is now in the third month.
But Somaliland insists that it should have been implemented, according to the minister who spoke to the BBC and said that President Muse Bihi has appointed a committee to negotiate with the Ethiopian government.
“It is going well, it will be completed quickly and soon we will present it to the two Somaliland councils, so it will be implemented,” said Minister Ali Mareehaan who spoke to the BBC.
There is no official news from the Ethiopian government regarding the news that the international media is writing that Ethiopia has withdrawn from the agreement.
Ethiopia looking to mend ties with Somalia
Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Kenyan counterpart William Ruto engaged in talks in Nairobi, addressing the contentious matter. Sources revealed that Ahmed expressed a willingness to step back from the most controversial elements of the deal in an effort to mend relations with Somalia, accoding to al midaan
Foreign officials, briefed on Addis Ababa’s stance, disclosed that Ethiopian authorities privately conveyed their openness to dropping the recognition of Somaliland. The issue was also raised by Ruto in a meeting with Somalian President Hassan Sheikh during his visit to Kenya.
Despite the discussions and potential reconsiderations, Ethiopia has not officially withdrawn from the Somaliland deal. Ethiopia’s leader remains committed to achieving his objective of securing direct access to the coast, according to insiders. but Araweelo News did not have any evidence to support the report.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in the early 1990s amid Somalia’s prolonged civil war. Over three decades later, Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, has actively sought international recognition within the borders of the former British protectorate. Formal recognition by Ethiopia could offer Somaliland its most significant opportunity yet to address its longstanding international isolation.
Ethiopia lost access to its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s when Eritrean forces, controlling Ethiopia’s northern coastal region, declared independence from the country. Ethiopia, heavily dependent on Djibouti for international trade, sought to diversify its options to mitigate vulnerability, expressing interest in acquiring access to ports along East Africa’s seaboard since October. On that note, Ethiopia’s assertion of rights and signaling its interest in Red Sea ports has raised concerns among its neighbors.accooding to as published in a report broadcast in Al Mayadeen from quoted by news Agencies.
