NAIROBI: Kenya has suggested a regional maritime treaty to defuse tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over a deal permitting Ethiopia to establish a naval base and giving it port access to Somaliland, said a top Kenyan official on Thursday.
Landlocked Ethiopia on January 1 agreed to lease 20 km of coastline in Somaliland, a part of Somalia which claims independence since 1991, offering possible recognition of Somaliland state in exchange.
That sparked a defiant response from Somalia and added concern the agreement could further destabilise the region of the Horn of Africa.
The treaty, Kenya is suggesting after negotiations with Djibouti and regional bloc IGAD would govern how landlocked countries in the region can access ports on commercial terms, said Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs.
He said that IGAD would be able to formalise a treaty for sharing maritime resources.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday held a meeting with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto under efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the African dispute.
Sing’oei said the two countries continue to engage with all the parties with a view to bring stability in the region.
If accepted, Kenya’s solution would offer Ethiopia predictable and stable access to maritime resources to carry out its business without any hurdle while also respecting the territorial integrity of Somalia.
Somalia and Ethiopia are evaluating the proposal, he said.
Sing’oei said the time is short as the Al-Shabab militants in Somalia are exploiting the dispute to portray the government in Mogadishu as being unable to protect the sovereignty of Somalia.
