In an address to the nation, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called for the people of Somalia to stay calm. Photo courtesy of Mogadishu Press website
Jan 2,
2024. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
Somalia said Tuesday it was recalling its ambassador to Ethiopia, declaring
that a controversial port deal Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway region of
Somaliland was a violation of its sovereignty.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also vowed that Somalia would defend its territory by "all legal means possible" following Monday's agreement that gives landlocked Ethiopia long sought-after access to the Red Sea.
The
government said it was appealing to international bodies including the United
Nations and the African Union to stand with Somalia.
"Somaliland
is part of Somalia under the Somali constitution so Somalia finds this step to
be a clear violation against its sovereignty and unity," the Somali
cabinet said in a statement.
It said the
memorandum of understanding signed in Addis Ababa on Monday was "null and
void with no legal basis and Somalia will not accept it".
"In
response to this, the Somali government has recalled its ambassador in Ethiopia
for consultation."
The
government also said it was appealing to the United Nations, African Union, the
Arab League and regional East African grouping IGAD among others "to stand
with the right for Somalia to defend its sovereignty and force Ethiopia to
adhere to international laws".
In an
address to the nation, Barre called for the people of Somalia to stay calm.
"I
want to assure you that we are committed to defending the country, we will not
allow an inch of land, sea and skies to be violated," he said.
"We
will defend our land with any legal means possible... We must unite and forget
about our differences to defend our land, integrity and sovereignty."
AFP
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