Morocco will preside over an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers via video conference on Wednesday to assess the repercussions of the controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) Ethiopia and Somaliland signed “illegally,” the Arab League announced on Sunday.
On January 1, Ethiopia signed a 50-year lease with Somaliland, granting it access to a naval base and Berbera port for commercial maritime operations, a 20-kilometer territory northwest of Somalia.
In exchange, Ethiopia will provide an in-depth examination of Somaliland’s bid for official recognition as an independent nation. According to Redwan Hussein, National Security Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Somaliland will also acquire a stake in Ethiopian Airlines.
Somalia has requested an urgent meeting of the Arab League to discuss the implications of the MoU, as announced by its Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League Elias Cheikh Omar Abu Bakr, on January 4.
Somali diplomat Abu Bakr highlighted the need for a united Arab response to Ethiopia’s “violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He cautioned that Ethiopia’s actions jeopardize Arab security and navigation in the Red Sea, undermining the Republic of Somalia’s independence and unity, violating Somali sovereignty, and raising tensions and escalating risk of conflict in the region.
Abu Bakr also underlined the need for countries to be “good neighbors” in maintaining peace and security in the Horn of Africa region.