Publications
Partners
- The African Union has pinned its hopes on former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to mediate between Somalia and Ethopia.
- Somalia says it can only talk to Ethiopia after it retracts its "illegal' MOU with Somaliland, and has said it is ready for war over the issue.
- The AU does not recognise Somaliland as independent from Somalia.
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has been deployed by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union to negotiate a de-escalation between Ethiopia and Somalia, before it develops into a full-blown war.
The relations between the two neighbouring countries have been dangerously strained since the breakaway region Somaliland entered into a deal with Ethiopia on 1 January that would effectively give the latter control of a seaport and a military base on the Red Sea.
Last week, Somalia said it was ready for war.
It wouldn't be the first time that the two nations to take up arms against each other.
In 1977, they fought over disputed territory and in 2006, Ethiopia invaded Somalia in a fight against terrorism.
Giving Ethiopia access to its territory, Somaliland hopes to also gain recognition as an independent state, something it has been pushing for since 1991, when it broke away from a 1960 voluntary union with Somalia.
READ | Unrest erupts as opposition in coup-prone Comoros rejects presidential vote
Obasanjo has his work cut out for him, with the two nations engaging in brinkmanship.
On Wednesday, Somalia turned away flight ET8273 from Ethiopia bound for Somaliland.
The plane was carrying Ethiopian government officials.
The PSC said it has since "called on the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia to adhere to and be guided by the core principles of the AU and international law in their bilateral and international relations".
The AU regards Somaliland as a province of Somalia.
The PSC, while assigning Obasanjo, called for non-interference by other countries in the issue.
In a statement, the PSC said:
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Thursday convened an extraordinary summit in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss the matter.
However, Somalia said it would not take part in any discussion with Ethiopia until it retracts its 1 January agreement with Somaliland.
"Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity has been violated by Ethiopia when it signed an illegal MOU with the northern region [Somaliland Administration] in Somalia. Conversely, Somalia has not violated these sacred principles."For that reason, there's no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MOU and reaffirms Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Somalia's foreign affairs ministry said.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
