UK Embassy in Somalia Expresses worries over Ethiopia-Somaliland Agreement

The British Embassy in Somalia has voiced its apprehension over recent developments stemming from an agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland. The UK reaffirmed its steadfast support for the Federal Republic of Somalia, citing escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa.

In a statement released on Thursday, the British Embassy in Somalia stated that “The UK is concerned by the rising tensions in the region. We affirm our full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,”

The embassy urged all parties to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to peacefully address the issues at hand.

The cause of concern arises from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Monday in Addis Ababa between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi.

The agreement grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through the port of Berbera in Somaliland.

While Abiy’s office celebrated the pact as “historic” and a framework for multisectoral partnership, Somalia swiftly rejected the deal. Somalia deemed it a threat to good neighborliness and a violation of its sovereignty.

Somaliland President however, upon returning from Addis Ababa, defended the rational behind the the deal saying Ethiopia is committed to recognizing the de facto nation.

This development marks a critical point in the geopolitical landscape, with historical context noting Ethiopia’s loss of Red Sea ports in the early 1990s after the Eritrean War of Independence.

The separation led to Eritrea gaining independence and Ethiopia becoming landlocked, impacting its ability to engage in efficient maritime trade.