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Somali president accused Hassan Sheikh MahmoudYesterday, Saturday, Ethiopia said that it “refuses to recognizeSomalia “A sovereign state,” at a time when relations between the two neighbors have been tense since Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with the region. Somaliland Separatism.
“Ethiopia refuses to recognize Somalia as a sovereign neighboring state,” Sheikh Mohamud said in a speech to the nation, adding that as long as Ethiopia “does not recognize Somalia's sovereignty, we cannot talk (about access to the sea) or anything else.”
The Somali president also stressed that “Ethiopia violated international law yesterday and continues to refuse today to comply with international laws so that negotiations can take place.”
In January, Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to access the sea, with a commitment to recognize the independence of this region that unilaterally broke away from Somalia, but Mogadishu denounced the agreement and described it as “illegal.”
The breakaway Somaliland authorities claimed that in exchange for this access to the sea, Ethiopia would become the first country to officially recognize them, something no country has done since the small breakaway region of 4.5 million people unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Turkey is mediating the issue, which has raised a dispute between the two neighbours with tense relations, with the aim of allowing Ethiopia access to international waters via Somalia without compromising its territorial sovereignty.
Talks were held on July 1 in the Turkish capital. According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan FidanThe two countries made “significant progress” during the second round of talks on August 13.
A third round of talks is scheduled for September 17 in Ankara.
