Hiiraan Online

Thursday August 29, 2024
By Abdirahman Yusuf Ali



Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi. Photo: Ethiopia PMO

Dear President Muse Bihi and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,

Don’t Drive to Disaster When You Can Avoid It – There are always alternative paths that can lead to a better solution, one that does not jeopardize Somaliland’s quest for recognition and still allows Ethiopia to meet its needs. However, you both have chosen a different course, and your actions have now triggered yet another unnecessary geopolitical conflict. When you signed the controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 1, you plunged the Horn of Africa into a tumultuous period that has weakened the region’s collective stability and deepened divisions within your respective countries.

Prime Minister Abiy, when you assumed office, you replaced desperation with hope, and a sense of relief and renewal was palpable in Ethiopia. You even won a Nobel Prize. But all that hope quickly vanished as you ventured into the destructive politics of division and discrimination, eventually leading to a deadly war with the TPLF in the Tigray region. Hope dissipated among Ethiopians both at home and abroad as insurrections and turmoil soon spread across the land. You were on the path to becoming one of the most reviled leaders in the region. You needed to reset and reconsider your strategies, but instead, you extended your wrongdoings into Somalia, hoping to manipulate public opinion in your favour.

While you were dealing with crises in Ethiopia, President Muse Bihi was orchestrating a deadly conflict in Las Anod, a town in the Sool region, which claimed hundreds of lives. Like your counterpart across the border, President Bihi, you chose not to build bridges after the storm but to dig deeper into conflict. The January 1 deal you both inked has destroyed the prospects for stability and mutual relations. The reality is that you have chosen to ignore the implications of this illegal MoU.

The MoU has inflamed nationalistic tendencies in both Ethiopia and Somalia, reviving memories of a dark history of bloodshed and animosity between the two countries. While Somalia has maintained that it will not allow an inch of its territory to be occupied under the MoU, you have stood your ground, advocating for an aggressive approach to access Somalia’s territory. History is full of examples of the consequences of such aggression. The Horn of Africa has endured enough conflict and instability. We cannot afford more of that! This generation aspires to coexist peacefully, to right the wrongs of the past, and to forge a progressive and prosperous future where Ethiopians and Somalis can embrace each other as neighbours and brothers. Somalia and the breakaway Somaliland have their own internal issues to address and would be better served doing so without the interference of an external aggressor.

Moving forward, we must strive to find a solution to the challenge you two leaders have created. Somaliland is not recognized as a sovereign state, which means the Federal Government of Somalia, as the highest authority on matters of territorial integrity and sovereignty, has categorically stated that the MoU is null, void, and inconsequential. This means any discussions surrounding the MoU cannot be part of any potential solutions. That said, the Federal Government of Somalia has also indicated that it does not oppose granting Ethiopia access to a seaport in Somalia, provided that such an agreement is executed within the framework of the law.

Prime Minister Abiy, it would be prudent for you to take advantage of this offer and reconsider your approach to securing a legal and peaceful deal. Ethiopia and Somalia both stand to benefit greatly from peaceful relations, given the enormous potential of the two countries.

President Bihi, focus on finding solutions, not creating chaos. Your role could be pivotal in fostering better lives for the people of Somaliland, Somalia, and Ethiopia.