The former president of Somalia, Mr. Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, has denounced the recent agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland that grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s ports and coastline. Speaking to the national media, Mr. Hassan said that Somaliland is a region of the Federal Republic of Somalia and has no authority to enter into such a deal with Ethiopia.
“Somaliland cannot enter into an agreement with a country like Ethiopia, and the action they took is nothing,” Mr. Hassan said. He added that the agreement was invalid and misguided, and that no one would accept Ethiopia’s ambition to control the Somali Sea.
Mr. Hassan also expressed his gratitude to the governments that supported Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposed Ethiopia’s interference in the region. He urged the international community to respect Somalia’s unity and independence, and to reject any attempts to divide the country.
