The Somaliland defence minister Abdiqani Mohamoud Ateye has tendered his resignation to protest against the sea port deal recently signed with Ethiopia.
The agreement will grant Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s seaport located in its separated Somalia region.
Ateye criticised Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi for the lack of consultation with the country’s council of ministers before going ahead with the Ethiopia sea port deal.
The minister slammed the leader “for not consulting the council of ministers on the port deal with Ethiopia”, adding that they “heard about it from the media”.
Ateye is from the Awdal region of Somaliland, where Ethiopia intends to establish a military post in the seaside town of Lughaya, according to reports.
Based on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed, Ethiopia, a landlocked country, will gain access to the Red Sea and in return, recognize Somaliland as an independent state.
Last week, Ethiopia secured sea access, formalising an agreement in the capital of Addis Ababa with Somaliland.
The memorandum of understanding, inked by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Somaliland President Abdi, outlines key aspects of the collaboration.
As per the agreement, Somaliland intends to lease a 20-km (12.4-mile) stretch of its coastline to Ethiopia for the establishment of a marine force base.
President Abdi highlighted this aspect during the signing ceremony. With a population exceeding 120 million, Ethiopia stands as the most populous landlocked country globally.
The accord not only cements the security framework but also enhances economic and political ties between Ethiopia and Somaliland, as stated in a release from the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s office.
President Abdi further revealed that the agreement includes a commitment from Ethiopia to recognise Somaliland as an independent nation soon.