By Damian ZaneBBC News, London2 hours agoImage caption, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (L) signed a deal with Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi on 1 JanuaryEthiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated that his country has no intention of causing harm to neighboring Somalia. His remarks in parliament were prompted by Somalia’s accusation that landlocked Ethiopia was attempting to take control of a part of its territory in order to gain access to the sea. Ethiopia reached a controversial deal with the breakaway republic of Somaliland last month. Somaliland, which is viewed by Somalia as part of its territory, agreed to lease a stretch of coastline to Ethiopia. Somalia condemned the agreement as an act of aggression, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud calling on youths to “prepare for the defense of our country”. He also stated that he would only engage in discussion with Ethiopia if the deal was retracted. Protests against the deal have taken place in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, with tens of thousands of people rallying to express their opposition. In the meantime, diplomats have attempted to ease tensions and emphasized the need to recognize Somalia’s sovereignty over all its territory.
“The people of Ethiopia and Somalia are connected by blood. Many Ethiopians have sacrificed their lives for the peace of Somalia,” he said, evidently referring to the Ethiopian forces that have supported Somalia’s government in its conflict with the armed Islamist group al-Shabab. “As a result, the relationship between the two countries is deep,” Mr Abiy added. He went on to attribute the attempt to “incite conflict between the two nations” to “certain forces”. However, he also continued to discuss the importance of accessing the sea, arguing that it would benefit the entire region. Mr Abiy had previously described sea access as an “existential issue” for his country. On 1 January, he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. An MoU is a statement of intent rather than a legally binding agreement. As part of the deal, Somaliland expressed willingness to grant Ethiopia access to the sea for commercial traffic through a port. It also indicated that it could lease a section of the coast to Ethiopia’s navy. In return, Somaliland stated that Ethiopia would recognize its independence, though this has not been confirmed by Addis Ababa. Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991 and possesses all the attributes of a nation, including a functioning political system, regular elections, a police force, and its own currency. However, its independence has not been acknowledged by any country.
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