Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has expressed his support for Somalia in the dispute over the northern region of Somaliland’s offer to grant landlocked Ethiopia access to its coast in exchange for recognition of its independence. writes about this Guard.
The head of state added that Cairo could be a direct participant in the escalation of the conflict between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have deteriorated since early January, when Somaliland and Ethiopia announced a memorandum of understanding to oust the Somali government, which has been a self-declared republic since 1991.
Somaliland officials said the proposed deal would see Ethiopia receive a naval base on the Gulf of Aden coast in exchange for full recognition. Ethiopia has remained silent on this aspect of the agreement due to mounting international pressure, although some officials have hinted at their support for Somaliland’s independence.
In an interview with the Observer this month, Somaliland Foreign Minister Essa Cade said “nothing will happen” unless the territory is recognized as an independent state. “Ethiopia needs access to the sea and we need recognition so you can see how those needs can be met,” Cade added.
Ethiopia has not been landlocked since 1993, when its restive northern region of Eritrea declared independence, leaving the country dependent on neighboring Djibouti for almost all international trade.
After Ethiopia and Somaliland announced the agreement at the beginning of the year, Somalia mobilized support from its international partners. in Egypt started Conflict with Ethiopia over the dam Ethiopia built on the Blue Nile.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday that Ethiopia was a “source of instability” in the region and called on Ethiopia to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity.
In Somaliland in early January last year opened first oil field.
Formerly Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published Africa map without Somalia.