The Arab League announced its rejection of an agreement between Ethiopia and the Somaliland region to establish a military base and develop a port on the Red Sea within the region. The spokesperson for the Arab League, Jamal Rushdi, stated, "We reject and condemn any memoranda of understanding that violate the sovereignty of the Somali state, or attempt to exploit the fragility of internal Somali conditions, or the stalled Somali negotiations." He expressed concerns about "the dangerous impact of this step on the spread of extremist ideas at a time when the Somali state is making significant efforts to confront them." He warned against exploiting these conditions to "sever part of Somalia's territory in violation of the rules and principles of international law, threatening the unity of the Somali state as a whole."
He added: "The Arab League fully expresses solidarity with the Somali Cabinet's decision, which deemed the memorandum of understanding for partnership and cooperation signed on January 1 between Ethiopia and Somaliland to be void and unacceptable, representing a clear violation of Somalia's sovereignty and unity and international law."
On Monday, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland that paves the way for "building a military base and developing a port on the Red Sea." On Tuesday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a speech before Parliament, declared that the memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopia and the Somaliland administration was "illegal, a blatant violation of international laws, and cannot be implemented."
Somaliland, which has not received official recognition since declaring its independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as an independent entity administratively, politically, and security-wise, amid the central government's inability to exert control over the region. Ethiopia has no coastline or shores following the separation of Eritrea, which borders the Red Sea.
