By Manal Abdel Fattah
Hamza Abdi Barre, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, stressed that the Somaliland region – located northwest of Somalia – is an integral part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia, denouncing the conclusion of the illegal memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and the Somaliland region, which represents a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Federal Republic of Somalia and the principles of international law, good-neighborly relations, peaceful coexistence and stability in the region, calling on the Arab foreign ministers to join hands and stand together to confront this Ethiopian plan, to stand in solidarity with Somalia in facing this great challenge, and to come up with strict decisions against the aggressive Ethiopian ambitions and those behind them.
This came in his speech today during the emergency meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of Arab foreign ministers to formulate a unified Arab position regarding Ethiopia’s violation of Somali sovereignty over its lands, which was held via video conference today, Wednesday, January 17th.
He said that Ethiopia took a step that contradicts all established diplomatic laws, customs and rules by concluding a memorandum of understanding with the Somaliland region, according to which it acquires a 20-kilometre-long sea strip off the shores of Somalia, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia on its territory, which we reject entirely. And in detail with all our might, and not only harm Somalia’s national interests, sovereignty and unity; Rather, it constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security and navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
He added that Ethiopia took a step that contradicts all established diplomatic laws, customs and rules by concluding a memorandum of understanding with the Somaliland region, according to which it acquires a 20-kilometre-long sea strip off the shores of Somalia, in flagrant violation of the sovereignty and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia on its territory, which we reject entirely. And in detail with all our might, and not only harm Somalia’s national interests, sovereignty and unity; Rather, it constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security and navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
He pointed out that in light of the accelerating tensions in the Red Sea region, which pose a threat to commercial shipping traffic, we believe that the step taken by the Ethiopian side is a well-thought-out plan that exacerbates the situation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and portends dire consequences for our countries. This requires us to unite our efforts to activate the mechanisms of joint Arab action and take serious steps to confront interference in the affairs of our Arab countries, and to respect the sovereignty of countries and international laws.
He said, “It is no secret to your esteemed council that the crude Ethiopian ambitions target the Arab countries bordering the Red Sea in an effort to create a new demographic reality in the region by implementing a dangerous plan to control the entrances to the Red Sea and harm the movement of global trade and navigation. In light of these movements, we call on you to unite and stand together to confront this Ethiopian plan, to stand in solidarity with Somalia in facing this great challenge, and to come up with strict decisions against the aggressive Ethiopian ambitions and those behind them…
He added that these developments come at a time when Somalia is making its way towards development, construction and stability, and we have taken concrete steps in this direction, the latest of which was Somalia’s accession to the East African Community last month to strengthen economic, social and political ties and accelerate development in our region, and my country has succeeded in eliminating terrorism, Our armed forces are waging a fierce war against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, and have succeeded in liberating large areas of Somalia by a large percentage of more than 80 percent. We are still seeking to liberate our entire lands from these extremist and destructive ideas, but Ethiopia has taken this step by circumventing the sovereignty of Somalia by concluding this agreement. The memorandum with a Somali region hinders Somalia’s efforts towards development and stability, and fuels conflict not only in Somalia, but will cast a disastrous shadow on the entire region, especially the Horn of Africa, and Ethiopia will not deter us from our goal of advancing Somalia towards a promising future for the Somali people in every inch of our territory.
He added that Somalia, under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was and is still extending its hand to peace, and our strategic goal is development and good neighborliness, not war. At a time when Somalia demonstrated its good intentions by putting forward a new proposal for peaceful coexistence and economic integration after centuries of hostility between the two countries, but Ethiopia, on the other hand, was and still is seeking to create chaos and division in the region.
He stressed that Somalia rejects these Ethiopian practices that inflame the entire region with the aim of distracting public opinion from what is happening inside Ethiopia. These are blatant attempts and everyone knows them. Somalia has never interfered in the internal affairs of Ethiopia. It must respect Somalia’s sovereignty and the rules of good neighbourliness.
He said that there is no secret of the raging conflicts and the tense situation in most Arab countries currently. The region is now on a “hot plate,” whether the operations taking place in the Red Sea, or what is taking place in Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen. We warn against opening a new front for the conflict in Somalia, and we will not allow it. For our country to be an arena for settling regional or international disputes and conflicts on our lands.
We highly appreciate the positions of the brotherly and friendly countries that have supported Somalia since the outbreak of the crisis on the first of this January, and we affirm that Somalia is looking forward to more Arab support for its position rejecting this step. We also reiterate from this platform that Somalia will not accept harming a single inch of its territory that we have preserved. For years and across generations, and in the darkest circumstances in the absence of a central government, how can we now give up our sovereignty when Somalia has regained its health?