Somalia has cancelled a controversial deal between Somaliland, a breakaway region of the country of around 18 million, and landlocked Ethiopia that would have allowed Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea. Somalia said the deal represented a “blatant disregard for international norms” of its sovereignty and that Somaliland had no right to sign agreements with foreign countries. Ethiopia would in return become the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent nation. Ethiopia currently has limited access to the sea, through a land corridor to Djibouti. Somalia said the sea-access deal breaches its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Source: Ethiopian News January 07, 2024 12:49 UTC