Arr, the cap'n of Somaliland claims that a pact with Ethiopia be lettin' 'em forge a mighty naval stronghold!
2024-01-26
Avast ye scallywags! Many a crew o' regional and international scoundrels be claimin' that Somaliland's pact to grant landlubber Ethiopia access to the seas be a blight upon international law! Arrr, quite the pickle indeed!
In a humorous twist, the news report from the 17th century pirate language tells the tale of a controversial agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia. According to the report, the president of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, has signed a deal with Ethiopia to give them access to the sea by using Somaliland's coastline. However, this agreement has been met with condemnation from various regional and international groups, as well as Western countries, who claim it interferes with Somalia's territorial integrity and could potentially destabilize the region.The article also mentions that Somalia itself has protested against the agreement, viewing it as a threat to their sovereignty. Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, is strategically located along the Gulf of Aden but has not been internationally recognized.
President Abdi clarified that the purpose of the agreement is for Ethiopia to lease a segment of the coastline for a naval base, not for commercial activities as previously believed. In exchange for the lease, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent state. However, Ethiopia will still be able to use the port of Berbera for its import and export activities, which is not part of the leased coastline.
Ethiopia, being the most populous landlocked country in the world, lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993. Since then, it has relied on the port in Djibouti for its trade.
The article concludes by mentioning the division among Somaliland's citizens regarding the deal, with some seeing economic benefits and others fearing a compromise of their sovereignty. Furthermore, there are concerns that the tensions over the agreement could undermine efforts to combat al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia. Various actors in the region, including Egypt, Eritrea, and even al-Shabab militants, could unite against the agreement and oppose Ethiopia's increased influence.