Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud firmly rejected any attempt to legitimize the encroachment by the Ethiopian government into Somali territorial waters.
Addressing the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, Turkey, President Mohamud strongly criticized Ethiopia’s unilateral actions, denouncing them for undermining international efforts to stabilize critical corridors, notably the Red Sea.
Somalia has leveled accusations against Ethiopia, asserting that it has violated sovereignty and territorial integrity through a memorandum of understanding signed with the breakaway Somaliland region on January 1st.
This agreement entails Somaliland leasing 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) of its coastline to Ethiopia for a period of 50 years, with plans for a naval base and commercial port. Somaliland anticipates formal recognition from Ethiopia in return, although Addis Ababa has not confirmed this aspect.
President Mohamud reiterated the federal government’s commitment to reclaiming territories from terrorist control, alongside broader initiatives to strengthen governance and enhance Somalia’s regional engagement. These efforts include pursuing membership in the East African Community, lifting the arms embargo, and achieving debt relief.
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) convened representatives from 147 countries under the theme “Elevating Diplomacy Amidst Crises,” addressing a wide array of global concerns, including climate change, migration, Islamophobia, trade disputes, and artificial intelligence.
