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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said Ethiopia “refuses” to accept Somalia’s sovereignty after Addis Ababa signed a controversial sea deal with Somaliland in January.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused Ethiopia of not accepting his country as a sovereign state. And he renewed his attack on Addis Ababa’s agreement with a breakaway Somali region.Ethiopia refuses to recognise Somalia as a sovereign neighbouring country, Somalia president said on Saturday during an address to the nation. Until Ethiopia recognises the sovereignty of Somalia, one cannot talk about the sea or any other thing. Ethiopia violated international law, stated the Somalian President.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease 20 kilometres (12 miles) of coast for 50 years. That would give Ethiopia – one of the world’s largest landlocked countries – long-sought-after access to the sea. Somaliland – which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 – has said Ethiopia in return will become the first country to formally recognise it, a step Addis Ababa has yet to confirm.
The United States, the European Union, China, the African Union, and the Arab League have all called on Ethiopia to respect Somalia’s sovereignty.
Turkey is coordinating indirect talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan citing “notable progress” after a second round of talks last Tuesday. A third round is planned for September 17, also in Ankara.
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With 120 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populated country in Africa. It has been seeking an outlet to the Red Sea ever since losing it in 1993 when Eritrea declared independence after a decades-long war.
