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Friday March 15, 2024
Dr. Isse Kayd. CREDIT: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Somaliland.
Hargeisa (HOL) -Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Isse Kayd Mohamud, met with the Somaliland community in Paris, France, where he stated that Somaliland and Ethiopia are nearing the completion of their agreement.
Dr. Kayd noted that while the public knows little about the MoU, two main aspects were publicized, and he hopes for broad support within Somaliland.
“The agreement’s critical points include a naval base for Ethiopia in exchange for immediate Somaliland recognition. One will not happen without the other,” said Dr. Kayd.
Additionally, he said Ethiopia is expected to reroute at least 10% of its trade to Somaliland, potentially increasing to 30% in the following year.
He elaborated, “In our discussions about Somaliland with various countries, they often point out that no African country has recognized us. However, no other African country understands our situation better than Ethiopia. If Ethiopia fails to recognize us, it is their loss, but it would be a divine coincidence. They will miss the opportunity for peace.”
Dr. Kayd emphasized that technical teams from both countries are reviewing the agreement in detail. He dismissed rumours of a post-Djibouti conference agreement with Ethiopia, clarifying that talks began four months ago.
Dr. Kayd said the Somaliland negotiation team recently visited coastal towns, including Berbera and Borama, to engage with locals.
The minister’s comments indicate that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two nations may be facing significant hurdles. Bloomberg reports that due to international pressure to reduce regional conflicts, Ethiopia may abandon its intention to acknowledge Somaliland as a separate entity. Ethiopian authorities are reportedly conveying to international diplomats a readiness to retract their recognition of Somaliland.
During a meeting in Kenya two weeks ago, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hinted at a softer stance. In discussions with President William Ruto, he indicated a readiness to compromise on critical aspects of the Ethiopia-Somaliland deal to foster better relations with Somalia.
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