APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Chairperson of the African Union Commission has expressed concern over growing tension between Ethiopia and Somalia after the former signed MoU with the Somaliland government to secure access to the Sea on the Gulf of Aden based on a renewable fifty years lease.
In a statement issued Thursday, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the Commission said that he has been closely following the development resulting from the signing of the MoU.
He called for calm and mutual respect to de-escalate the simmering tension between the Governments of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
He is particularly calling for Ethiopia and Somalia to not take any action that may unintentionally result in the “deterioration of the good relations between the two neighboring Eastern African countries.”
His message also emphasized the duty to respect the Unity and Territorial Integrity of member states of the African Union. The statement said that it is “imperative to respect unity, territorial integrity and full sovereignty of all African Union member states including Federal Republic of Somalia and Federal Democratic [R]republic of Ethiopia.”
In terms of action, the chairperson is calling for a negotiation between Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed’s Administration and Somalia to Iron out differences in a constructive manner.
The Chairperson “urged the two brother countries to engage without delay in a negotiation process to settle their differences in the most constructive, peaceful and collaborative manner to consolidate and deepen their cooperation to serve peace and security in the region.”
MG/abj/APA