President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s unwavering support for Somalia’s security and stability during a phone call with Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and increase cooperation in various fields.
The conversation took place following a controversial pact between the breakaway region of Somaliland and Ethiopia, which granted the latter access to the Red Sea. The agreement has sparked anger in Mogadishu, which views it as a violation of its sovereignty.
Somaliland has been seeking full statehood since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, a move that has not been recognized internationally. The pact with Ethiopia gives the landlocked country access to the Red Sea, a vital waterway for global trade.
In response to the agreement, the Somali government has announced an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the matter. Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo, has expressed concern about the deal on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Somalia’s point person for Somaliland, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, said the government in Mogadishu would issue a “firm and measured statement” in response to the agreement. He argued that the deal represents a disregard for international norms and undermines the progress made through ongoing dialogue between the federal government of Somalia and Somaliland.
The pact between Somaliland and Ethiopia comes months after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his country would assert its right to access the Red Sea, raising concerns among its neighbors.
