In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the bill was an “illustration of our commitment to safeguard our unity, sovereignty & territorial integrity as per international law”. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 amid a civil war in the country’s south and has operated autonomously since. Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, claims the borders of the former British protectorate of Somaliland in northern Somalia. The spokesperson for Turkey’s foreign ministry also expressed its support for the “unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Somalia. The deal has divided public opinion across Somalia and Somaliland, sparking several demonstrations and counter-demonstrations against the handover of territory to Ethiopia, with which Somalia has a history of conflict.

Source: Ethiopian News January 06, 2024 20:43 UTC