Abiy Ahmed sees his country’s access to a sea port as a legitimate right (European Archives)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called for the need to resolve the crisis between his country and Somalia through diplomatic means without the participation of external parties.
In the first comment on the crisis between Ethiopia and Somalia against the backdrop of the Addis Ababa agreement with the unrecognized Somaliland region to obtain a sea port for Ethiopia, Ahmed said during a meeting of the Central Committee of the Prosperity Party yesterday, Friday, that his country will not be drawn into a conflict with Somalia.
He spoke about what he described as "the presence of a desire among some forces to implicate Somalia and make it an arena for conflict," stressing that his country has proven to the world that its request to reach the Red Sea is a legitimate request, and that it is only seeking to reach the sea.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister stressed the importance of acting wisely at this stage so that relations between the two countries are not affected, according to what was reported by the Ethiopian News Agency.
The agreement between Addis Ababa and the Somaliland region, which grants Ethiopia access to the port of Berbera on the Red Sea in exchange for its recognition of the region as an independent state, sparked condemnation from Somalia and regional parties, including Egypt. It also called on the United States to respect Somalia’s sovereignty.
A few days ago, Somalia rejected any mediation unless Ethiopia withdraws from its agreement with the region, which is declared a unilateral state and is not recognized internationally, while Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said that his country will not allow any threat to Somalia and its security.
Last October, the Ethiopian Prime Minister said that his country's existence is "linked to the Red Sea," adding that living in peace in the region requires mutual sharing in a balanced way.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies