Saturday March 2, 2024
Antalya (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has dismissed claims to legitimize the Ethiopian government's encroachment on Somali territorial waters.
Speaking at the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday, President Mohamud criticized the Ethiopian government's unilateral actions, stating that they undermine international efforts to stabilize important corridors, including the Red Sea.
Somalia has accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity over the memorandum of understanding signed with the breakaway Somaliland region on January 1st.
Under the maritime deal, Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of its coast to Ethiopia for 50 years. Ethiopia intends to establish a naval base and a commercial port on the coast. In return, Somaliland claims Ethiopia would grant it formal recognition, although Addis Ababa has not confirmed these assertions.
President Mohamud emphasized that the federal government continues to liberate areas under the control of terrorists alongside other plans, which include strengthening the government and Somalia's role in the region, such as joining the East African Community, lifting the arms embargo, and completing debt relief.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) brought together representatives from 147 countries worldwide. Themed "Elevating Diplomacy Amidst Crises," the forum addressed various topics including global issues, climate change, migration, Islamophobia, trade wars, and artificial intelligence.