Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused Ethiopia of denying Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, leading to the collapse of Turkey-mediated talks between the two nations in Ankara last week.
In a televised address on Saturday, President Mohamud stated that discussions on sea access or business with Ethiopia would not proceed until Ethiopia acknowledges Somalia’s sovereignty.
“From 1960 to 1990, we claimed that Somali people and land were missing from us in Ethiopia. Most Somalis live in Ethiopia when you leave the Somali borders. We have pursued rights for those people, and it is unfortunate that Ethiopia now attempts to convince them to forget what had happened in the past and return to the free country to secede,” Mohamud said.
“Somalia, even without a government or civilization, has refused to let Ethiopia take land and reach the sea by force. This dream of seizing the sea will not come true. We have been tested in the past and were successful; they will not,” he added.
The second round of Turkish-mediated talks between Somalia and Ethiopia over a controversial port deal, which Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway Somaliland region, ended without an agreement on Tuesday. But Turkey and ministers from both countries sounded upbeat on progress.
The negotiations held in Ankara have attempted to repair relations between the East African neighbours, whose relationship nosedived in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognition of its independence.
The Ethiopian and Somali foreign ministers did not hold direct talks in Ankara, with Turkey’s foreign minister shuttling between them instead.
Turkey has close ties with both Ethiopia and Somalia, training Somali security forces and supplying development assistance in return for a foothold on a key global shipping route.
The United States, the European Union, China, the African Union and the Arab League have all called on Ethiopia to respect Somalia’s sovereignty.
