The action by the Somali government came a day after Ethiopia announced Monday signing a "historic" initial agreement with the self-declared republic of Somaliland that will allow landlocked Ethiopia to have access to the Red Sea. Abdi posted on X that in the memorandum Ethiopia "officially recognizes the Republic of Somaliland while Somaliland grants naval and commercial sea access on lease to Ethiopia for 50 years." Somalia warned Ethiopia against "any attempt to violate the sovereignty, independence, and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Al-Shabab immediately responded to the deal and condemned the MoU signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland. Ethiopia sent its troops back into Somalia in early 2012 after militants expanded, and Ethiopian forces joined the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Source: Ethiopian News January 02, 2024 16:23 UTC