APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Somaliland’s Defence Minister Abdiqani Mohamoud Ateye has resigned in protest over a deal allowing Ethiopia unfettered access to a port in the breakaway region of Somalia.
Somaliland is regarded by Somalia as a renegade province since it broke away from the rest of the restive country in the early 1990s.
Unrecognised internationally as an independent state, the 176,120 square kilometre enclave boasts of its own government, parliament and currency.
Ateye criticized Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi for not consulting his ministers over the deal with Ethiopia which he learned from media reports.
His resignation was followed by a working visit by Somaliland’s Chief of Staff, Major General Nuh Ismail Than, to Addis Ababa where he held talks with his Ethiopian counterpart, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula.
Ateye, from Somaliland’s Awdal region, where Ethiopia aims to establish a military base in Lughaya, cited a lack of consultation.
The controversial agreement is said to grant Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, with reports suggesting it recognises Somaliland’s independence in exchange for the favour.
Somalia deems the deal as aggression on its sovereignty and recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa.
Diplomatic tensions led to Ethiopia’s ambassador also being recalled.
The visit by Somaliland’s Defense Chief of Staff to Ethiopia coincided with a trip by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Asmara.
The Somali leader has visited Asmara more than three times in less than a year as Eritrea provide training to thousands of soldiers for Somalia.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed last week between the Ethiopian government and Somaliland has heightened political and military tension in the region.
Somalia has since hardened its rhetoric against the deal as Egypt and Turkey express allegiance to Mogadishu.
MG/as/APA