In response to a contentious deal between landlocked Ethiopia and Somaliland for sea access, the African Union (AU) and the United States have jointly called for the preservation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The agreement has triggered diplomatic tensions, with Somalia condemning it as an aggressive move and a violation of its sovereignty. Somalia has vowed to challenge the deal “through any legal means.”
Somaliland, which seceded from Somalia in 1991, lacks international recognition as an independent state.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, affirmed on Wednesday that the United States acknowledges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia within its established borders.
Moussa Faki, Chair of the AU Commission, echoed the call for respecting the “unity, territorial integrity, and complete sovereignty” of both Somalia and Ethiopia.
Both the US and AU have urged the involved parties to engage in diplomatic dialogue, emphasising the need for a peaceful resolution to the dispute. There are growing concerns that the agreement could escalate tensions in the Horn of Africa region.