By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-19 17:43:28
In an effort to prevent the growing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia from escalating into a full-scale war, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has deployed former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for negotiation efforts.
The dangerous strain in relations between the two neighboring countries emerged after the secessionist region of Somaliland signed an agreement with Ethiopia on January 1st, granting Ethiopia control over a maritime port and a military base on the Red Sea. Somalia responded by declaring its readiness to go to war.
This is not the first time the two nations have clashed. In 1977, they disputed territory, and in 2006, Ethiopia invaded Somalia as part of the fight against terrorism. Somaliland’s decision to allow Ethiopia access to its territory is in hopes of gaining international recognition for its status as an independent state, a claim it has asserted since separating from Somalia in 1991.
Obasanjo faces a challenging task as the two countries engage in a delicate geopolitical dance. On Wednesday, Somalia turned away an Ethiopian flight bound for Somaliland, carrying representatives of the Ethiopian government. The PSC has called on both Ethiopia and Somalia to adhere to the fundamental principles of the AU and international law in their bilateral and international relations.
The African Union considers Somaliland to be a province of Somalia, and while designating Obasanjo, the PSC has also urged against interference by other countries in the matter. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened an extraordinary summit on Thursday in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss the issue.
However, Somalia has declared that it will not engage in any discussions with Ethiopia unless the latter reverses its January 1 agreement with Somaliland. The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland has violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, making it clear that there is no room for mediation unless Ethiopia reverses its agreement and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
