Somalia’s President Reiterates his position of not accepting Somaliland-Ethiopia deal

The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has called on the Ethiopian government for good neighborliness, he said Somalia and Ethiopia have one choice – to live in peace, maintain friendship, cooperate on mutual interests, and his government is ready for that.

He reiterated his position as the president of Somalia that he will not accept the MoU signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland. Ethiopia wanted the Somali sea even during the British protectorate but they refused, he alleged.

Hassan Sheikh emphasized that a Somali territory cannot be exchanged for a [stake] in a company like Ethiopian airlines, Ethiopian Telecom, GERD, even if Ethiopia combines them, “we cannot swap for a territory” he said.

The President of Somalia said, Ethiopian leaders are misleading their people by telling them they have access to the red sea. Hassan Sheikh said that the notion that Ethiopia cannot develop without access to the sea is not true, citing that many in the world do not have access to sea, but still are thriving and moving forward.