In a mostly symbolic move expressing his government’s disapproval of the agreement to allow port access, Somalia’s president signed a law “nullifying” a contentious accord between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
According to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, he nullified the illegal agreement that granted Ethiopia’s long-desired access to the Red Sea because Somalia exercises little real authority over the northwestern region.
Somalia called the surprise pact signed on Monday an act of “aggression” and a violation of its sovereignty, and it appealed for international support.
The northwestern region of Somaliland has its own government, security forces, currency, and a long coastline on one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Somaliland’s leadership calls on Ethiopia to formally recognize the republic of Somaliland under the deal, but this has not been confirmed by the government in Addis Ababa.
The African Union, USA, EU, and Arab League have all appealed for calmness and respect for Somalia’s sovereignty in light of the agreement’s increased tensions in the Horn of Africa.
The memorandum of understanding gives Ethiopia access to commercial maritime services and a military base, with Somaliland leasing 20 kilometers (12 miles) of coastline for 50 years.
After Eritrea proclaimed independence in 1993, Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa and a landlocked nation, was shut off from the coast.