HARGEISA, Somalia– In a move that underscores the intensifying political tensions in the Horn of Africa, Ahmed Mumin, former Minister of Agriculture for the self-declared independent region of Somaliland, was apprehended in the capital Hargeisa. Mumin’s arrest on Sunday follows his public disapproval of a contentious maritime agreement with Ethiopia, a pact that has sparked widespread condemnation and unrest.
This arrest is part of a broader pattern of suppression in Somaliland, targeting critics of the deal with Ethiopia. The agreement, signed on January 1st in Addis Ababa, has been characterized by the Somali government as an “act of aggression,” escalating concerns about regional stability. In addition to Mumin, several journalists and political activists have been detained for expressing opposition to the deal, fueling allegations of human rights violations in the region.
The Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) has convened an emergency meeting in Uganda to deliberate on the burgeoning crisis. The contentious deal involves Somaliland offering 20 kilometers of Red Sea coastline to Ethiopia in exchange for recognition as an independent state. This proposal has incited significant backlash, including violent demonstrations in parts of Somalia.
Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Essa Kayd, in a statement to The Observer, defended the agreement, claiming it as a strategic step towards gaining international recognition for Somaliland. Kayd emphasized the deal’s potential to initiate a wave of recognitions for Somaliland’s long-sought sovereignty. However, the legitimacy of the pact remains in question, with a Western diplomat referring to it as a “memorandum of misunderstanding,” noting Ethiopia’s denial of any commitment to recognize Somaliland’s independence.
Kayd asserts that the agreement hinges on Ethiopia’s acknowledgment of Somaliland’s sovereignty, indicating that discussions have been ongoing for years. The arrangement, according to Kayd, addresses mutual needs: Ethiopia’s requirement for sea access and Somaliland’s quest for recognition.
Despite Somaliland’s self-governance since 1991, Somalia continues to claim the region as part of its territory. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has expressed readiness for military confrontation with Ethiopia if the latter continues to engage in what he perceives as territorial overreach.
The recent developments mark a significant escalation in the already complex geopolitical dynamics of the Horn of Africa, with potential ramifications for regional peace and stability.
