Why the Ethiopia-Somaliland Memorandum of Understanding is a Boon to Al-Shabaab

[Deeq A.]

A Memorandum of Misunderstanding: Abiy Ahmed, left, shakes hands with Muse Bihi in Addis Ababa on 1 January 2024.

Mogadishu (PP Editorial) — Many people wonder why Ethiopia has unexpectedly embraced the rejectionist ideology of Al-shabaab to violate the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Ethiopia maintains a peacekeeping force in Somalia under a bilateral agreement signed during President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed’s first term of office, but was renewed in December 2023. The maritime Memorandum of Understanding signed by Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed two weeks ago to have a coastal district leased to Ethiopia for fifty years violates the sovereignty of Somalia. Ethiopia opted to follow in the footsteps of Al-Shabaab, a proscribed extremist organisation that views the Federal Government of Somalia as an apostate entity whose members deserve to be snuffled out.

Al-Shabaab rejects the sovereignty of Somalia, so does Ethiopia by signing an MoU with a secessionist administration. “The recent MoU inked between Ethiopia and Somaliland threatens to disrupt the fight that Somali, African, regional and International Partners including us are waging against Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab remains a viable terrorist threat in the region” said White House l Press Secretary John Kirby.

The Federal Government of Somalia troops liberated many districts and villages from Al-Shabaab, an indication that Somalia is making a headway towards rebuilding its national army. The African Union Peace and Security Council, a pro-Abiy outfit, malevolently describes well-meaning partners of Somalia as external bodies fanning discord between Somalia and Ethiopia. The only way out of the diplomatic isolation upon which Ethiopia imposed itself is to abandon the infamous maritime Memorandum of Understanding signed in violation of the sovereignty of Somalia and the principles of Horn of Africa Economic Integration Initiative to which the Federal Government of Somalia has been committed.

Ethiopian troops have no peacekeeping legitimacy to remain in Somalia as long the Ethiopian Prime Minister remains wedded to gaining access to sea by any means to violate the sovereignty of Somalia. Abiy Ahmed has damaged the goodwill and trust built over the years between Somalia and Ethiopia.

© Puntland Post, 2024

The post Why the Ethiopia-Somaliland Memorandum of Understanding is a Boon to Al-Shabaab appeared first on Puntland Post.