Arab League to Hold Emergency Meeting Over Somalia-Ethiopia Tensions

Egypt’s official news agency reported on Sunday that the Arab League will convene an emergency virtual ministerial meeting to address escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia. The Arab League Deputy Secretary-General, Hossam Zaki, announced that the meeting is scheduled for January 17.

Zaki stated that Morocco will preside over the emergency meeting, a decision made at the request of Somalia with the backing of 12 Arab countries.

He added that the meeting will discuss the consequences of what he described as an “unlawfully” signed agreement, granting Addis Ababa operational privileges in the Red Sea area of northwest Somalia, and emphasized the full consensus and support for Somalia’s position within the Arab League.

Several Arab League member countries, including Egypt, have openly rejected the recently signed agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, expressing strong support for Somalia’s sovereignty over its territories.

The Somali Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, who declared the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland as “invalid”, issued a warning to Ethiopia against any intervention in Somali territories.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, granted Ethiopia operational access to its shores, which includes the Red Sea port , through the MoU, signed on January 1 in exchange for its recognition of independence.

The move has sparked reactions in Somalia against Ethiopia, with many prominent Somalis expressing their opposition.