Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced today, in a statement from the presidency, that Egypt will not allow any threat to the state of Somalia or its security. This statement comes after Ethiopia indicated it would consider the idea of recognizing the independence of Somaliland in an agreement that would allow Addis Ababa to benefit from a seaport.
He stated, "No one should test Egypt or attempt to threaten its brothers, especially if they request intervention from us." The Egyptian president made this comment during a press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo, emphasizing that an attempt to "jump on the land of others to try to seize control will not be accepted by anyone," pointing out that cooperation in development is a better strategy.
This follows Ethiopia's announcement that it would consider recognizing Somaliland's independence in exchange for access to the Red Sea. In a memorandum of understanding signed on January 1, Ethiopia stated it would explore the recognition of Somaliland's independence in return for permission to access the sea.
Under the agreement, Addis Ababa is set to lease 20 kilometers of coastal land around the port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden for 50 years for military and commercial purposes. The main port currently used by Ethiopia for its maritime exports is located in the neighboring country of Djibouti. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, but this move has not been recognized by any country.
