Ethiopia has pledged to recognize Somaliland in exchange for access to the Red Sea. The government of Somalia has called the deal a "violation" of its sovereignty.
The deal, agreed on Monday, would see Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea and its major trade routes in exchange for formal recognition of Somaliland — a region across the northern strip of the Horn of Africa that is seeking independence from Somalia.
It will also lease out 20 kilometers (12 miles) of sea access for 50 years while also allowing Ethiopia to build a military base on the coast, Ethiopian national security advisor Redwan Hussein said.
Addis Ababa had previously relied on Djibouti for its maritime trade after losing access to the coast following a three-decade war with its own breakaway region — Eritrea — which achieved independence in 1993.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had declared its ambition to secure access to the Red Sea, sparking concern among neighbors and the wider community about further conflict in the region.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the surprise deal as a “disgrace against international norms and laws,” in a speech to parliament on Tuesday.
Somaliland, a region with a population of around 3.5 million, declared independence in 1991 and has since been spared much of the violence wrought upon the rest of Somalia by groups such as al-Shabab.
The original article contains 396 words, the summary contains 199 words. Saved 50%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The deal, agreed on Monday, would see Ethiopia gain access to the Red Sea and its major trade routes in exchange for formal recognition of Somaliland — a region across the northern strip of the Horn of Africa that is seeking independence from Somalia.
It will also lease out 20 kilometers (12 miles) of sea access for 50 years while also allowing Ethiopia to build a military base on the coast, Ethiopian national security advisor Redwan Hussein said.
Addis Ababa had previously relied on Djibouti for its maritime trade after losing access to the coast following a three-decade war with its own breakaway region — Eritrea — which achieved independence in 1993.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had declared its ambition to secure access to the Red Sea, sparking concern among neighbors and the wider community about further conflict in the region.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the surprise deal as a “disgrace against international norms and laws,” in a speech to parliament on Tuesday.
Somaliland, a region with a population of around 3.5 million, declared independence in 1991 and has since been spared much of the violence wrought upon the rest of Somalia by groups such as al-Shabab.
The original article contains 396 words, the summary contains 199 words. Saved 50%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!