Ethiopia frowns at Egypt’s plan for military Base in Somaliland

Ethiopia frowns at Egypt’s plan for military Base in Somaliland

Ethiopia said on Friday that whatever relations Egypt wishes to establish with any country in the East African region must neither subvert nor subdue Ethiopia’s interests.

Addressing a weekly news briefing, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dina Mufti emphasised that: ‘Egypt as a sovereign country reserves the right to establish relations with any country. But this should not come at the expense of Ethiopia’s stability’.

Recent reports have it that Egypt has been making attempts at establishing a military base in Somaliland.

Late in July, a delegation from Egypt met with Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi and reportedly proposed setting up a military camp in the northwestern part of the territory.

Dina Mufti said the Ethiopian government was following developments very closely.

‘That is a red line for us,’ he asserted, adding that Ethiopia desires friendly relations with Somaliland, despite its non-state status.

Some analysts see Egypt’s move as retaliation against Somalia for taking sides with Ethiopia in the Nile dam dispute.

Following the failure of US-sponsored talks this February among the three stakeholders; Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt; the African Union brought the three countries together again for continued negotiations in June.

Ethiopia had last week submitted a proposal on the filling of the dam – a proposal met with misgivings by Egypt and Sudan, which asked for time to review it.

Source: Anadolu Agency