AU Urges Restraint Over Ethiopia’s Deal with Somaliland
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council convened on Wednesday to address the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia following the maritime agreement signed with Somaliland on January 1. The deal, which allows Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coastline, has been rejected by Somalia, leading to heightened regional tensions. The AU Council issued a statement expressing “deep concern” over the situation and called for both parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate, and engage in meaningful dialogue to find a peaceful resolution.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometers of its coast to Ethiopia for 50 years, with Ethiopia expressing its intention to establish a naval base and a commercial port. Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region that declared independence from Somalia in 1991, is not internationally recognized. Somalia has vehemently opposed the deal, vowing to defend its territory through “all legal means” and seeking urgent meetings with the United Nations and the African Union.
The AU’s security council reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the territorial integrity of all member states and emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the maritime dispute. International actors, including the United States, the European Union, China, and the Arab League, have called for respecting Somalia’s sovereignty. The East African trade bloc Igad has scheduled a meeting on January 18 in Uganda to address the tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.
Somaliland, with a population of about 4.5 million, has sought formal statehood for over three decades but remains unrecognized globally. While Mogadishu opposes Somaliland’s independence claim, the region operates with its government, security forces, and currency. Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa, has been landlocked since Eritrea seceded in 1993. The maritime agreement with Somaliland signifies Ethiopia’s efforts to secure sea access after losing its access to a port in Eritrea due to the 1998 war between the two countries.
