Somalia Denies Opening Dialogue with Ethiopia

Somalia has no intention of opening up to dialogue with Ethiopia since the Addis Ababa Agreement of January 2024, which established the transfer of 20 kilometers of Somalia’s coastline to Ethiopia in exchange for its recognition as an independent state.

Mogadishu believes that “dialogue with Ethiopia will remain elusive until it withdraws the illegal memorandum of understanding with the northern region of Somalia (Somaliland) and demonstrates full respect for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and the principle of non-interference,” the Somali federal government said in a statement.

In the same document, Somalia welcomes the efforts of the G7, which met in Capri for three days, from April 15 to 18, and discussed the situation in the Horn of Africa. “Somalia is committed to maintaining peace and security in the region and seeks to strengthen its cooperation with the G7 and other international partners to ensure lasting peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa,” but the red line that should not be crossed is the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement.

Somaliland is a territory that includes some of the northern provinces of the Somali state. It is not internationally recognized as an independent country, but it has its own army and central bank, and it has held elections since 1991, when it declared independence as civil war raged.