Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday for an extraordinary session of the IGAD Heads of State & Government. The session, scheduled for January 18, 2024, is set to address the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over a lease agreement in the autonomous region of Somaliland. Additionally, President Mohamud will attend the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit.
The special session, convened by Djibouti’s president and IGAD Chairman, Ismail Omar Guelleh, will focus on reinforcing regional stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in Somalia and Sudan. This development follows a controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and Somaliland President Muse Bihi. The agreement, which proposes Ethiopia leasing a 20-kilometre coastal stretch in Somaliland for a commercial port and a military base in exchange for Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty, has been vehemently opposed by the Somali government, labelling it a violation of their sovereignty.
The extraordinary meeting comes barely 48 hours after an unscheduled Ethiopian Airlines flight ferrying high-level government officials was turned away from Somali airspace.
The African Union (AU) and IGAD have urged dialogue amidst the growing tensions. The IGAD Secretariat, led by former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu, will play a facilitative role in the summit despite coming under fire from Somali leaders this week for his statement. Workneh expressed “deep concern” regarding the deteriorating relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia, emphasizing the importance of closely monitoring the situation.
The Somali government felt that his statement fell short and demanded an apology and retraction from Workneh, alleging bias in his statements. Gebeyehu is an Ethiopian national.
Ethiopian government officials have also expressed dissatisfaction with IGAD’s handling of the situation, as reported by sources from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At a recent event, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged feeling global pressure over the MoU, as various countries and international organizations have shown support for Somalia.
The African Union’s conflict resolution body recently expressed grave concern over the increasing tensions and urged restraint between Ethiopia and Somalia regarding the coastline deal.
Adding to the regional tensions, President Mohamud recently visited Eritrea for talks with President Isaias Afwerki and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi, who is also involved in a dispute with Ethiopia over the GERD Dam, has shown immediate support for Somalia’s sovereignty, inviting President Mohamud to Cairo for further discussions.
Ethiopia, citing scheduling conflicts, has declined to attend the IGAD session. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has communicated its willingness to discuss alternative dates for the summit. Despite the controversy, the Ethiopian government maintains that its agreement with Somaliland is lawful and does not infringe on another country’s sovereignty. At a recent event, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged feeling global pressure over the MoU, as various countries and international organizations have shown support for Somalia.
In a separate development, the Sudanese government has withdrawn from the upcoming summit. This decision stems from the need for direct discussions between Sudan’s top military leaders, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti), before engaging in broader dialogues. Following this decision, Sudan has severed ties with the regional body.
