Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – The Commander of the Ethiopian Armed Forces, General Birhanu Jula, has declared that Ethiopia is on the verge of becoming one of the countries bordering the Red Sea. His statement comes just days after Ethiopia and Somalia reached an agreement to ease tensions resulting from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Ethiopia and Somaliland on January 1, 2024.
The MoU granted Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through Somaliland’s territory, a move strongly opposed by the Federal Government of Somalia, which has condemned it as an act of aggression.
General Birhanu’s recent remarks have raised concerns that Addis Ababa may still be intent on pursuing the contentious deal with Somaliland. “There is only a short time left for Ethiopia to become one of the countries around the Red Sea,” said General Birhanu, without elaborating on the specifics of how this would occur.
The Ethiopian government has yet to officially comment on whether Birhanu’s statement signals a reaffirmation of the MoU with Somaliland.
The Somali government has repeatedly warned that any attempt to implement the agreement would be seen as an infringement on its sovereignty. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has previously stated that Ethiopia’s economic future depends on direct access to a port but emphasized that this goal is to be pursued through peaceful negotiations.