Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Sh. Mohamud has on Saturday evening signed a law nullifying the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopian and Somaliland, leasing 20 kilometers of sea access to Ethiopia.
The President appreciated members of the Federal Parliament and Senators in the Upper House for their historic role in defending the country’s territorial integrity.
“This evening,I signed the law nullifying the illegal MoU between the Gov’t of Ethiopia & Somaliland. With the support of our lawmakers & our people, this law is an illustration of our commitment to safeguard our unity, sovereignty & territorial integrity as per international law”, President Hassan said after signing the law.
The President described the law as the official stance of the Federal Government of Somalia, warning everyone who was thinking of to take the land and air of the Somali people.
“Pres. @HassanSMohamud has signed a law nullifying the MoU b/w Ethiopia and Somaliland, praising Parliament for protecting #Somalia's sovereignty. He emphasized that this law represents our official stance and acts as a strong deterrent against any trespassing on Somali territory”, Information Minister, Daud Aweis Jama said.
This move comes a day after the Ethiopian Government provided further details about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the breakaway republic of Somalia on January 1st, leasing 20 kilometers of coastline along the red sea to Ethiopia.
Redwan Hussein, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia said in an interview with local media that the MoU with Somaliland gives opportunity to the next generations of Ethiopians, stressing the agreement suited 100 years (a century) but a 50-year contract which also sounded good, he said.
“We’re getting sea access at an area very close to us, it is called ‘Lug-haye’. the agreement is based on 50-year contract, but for us, we would have liked to 99 to 100 years. Even if it is 50 year-contract, it is for two generations. First it expands opportunities. The image of the world as well as the one of Ethiopia will change at that time”, Hussein said in the interview.
Redwan revealed that Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as sovereign as state when sea access deal and building of military base for Ethiopia in area are implemented successfully, adding that shares on country’s telecom and Airlines Carrier will be next.