CAIRO: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has promised the organization’s support for Somalia against Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, Arab media reported on Sunday.
During a meeting in Egypt with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Aboul Gheit termed a memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopia and the Somaliland region as null, void, and unacceptable.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed the MoU with Somaliland’s leader Muse Bihi Abdi in exchange for being granted commercial and naval access to the Red Sea port of Berbera.
A resolution issued by the Arab League’s ministerial council on January 17 announced backing for Somalia’s diplomatic measures to tackle this perilous situation.
تشرفت بلقاء فخامة رئيس الصومال @HassanSMohamud مساء اليوم في القاهرة وأكدت له علي وقوف #الجامعة_العربية إلي جوار #الصومال للتغلب علي التحديات التي تواجهها بالذات علي اثر التوقيع علي اتفاق بين اقليم صومالي لاند ودولة اثيوبيا يمنح الاخيرة ميزة اقامة قاعدة بحرية في احد مواني ذلك… pic.twitter.com/Npgg0pXcQy
— الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية (@lassecgen) January 20, 2024
Jamal Rushdi, spokesman for the Arab League chief, said Aboul Gheit and Mohamud discussed securing Arab, African, and global support for Somalia in upholding its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
They also talked about how to help Somalia combating terrorism and strengthen its national institutions and economy.
Mohamud expressed gratitude to the Arab League for its ongoing backing.
Earlier, Somalia had said there was no room for mediation in a dispute with Ethiopia unless Addis Ababa canceled a controversial maritime agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland.
