Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo Deployed to Mediate Ethiopia-Somalia Tensions

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In a bid to facilitate negotiation efforts, the PSC has deployed former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has taken a diplomatic step to prevent the rising tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia from escalating into a full-scale war.

The strained relations between Ethiopia and Somalia intensified after the secessionist region of Somaliland inked an agreement with Ethiopia on January 1st. The agreement granted Ethiopia control over a maritime port and a military base on the Red Sea. The move has triggered heightened tensions, with Somalia expressing its readiness for potential military action.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo Deployed to Mediate Ethiopia-Somalia Tensions

The historical context of conflict between the two nations includes a territorial dispute in 1977 and Ethiopia’s invasion of Somalia in 2006 as part of the fight against terrorism. Somaliland’s decision to allow Ethiopia access to its territory is a strategic move aimed at gaining recognition as an independent state. Somaliland declared independence in 1991, breaking away from the voluntary union formed with Somalia in 1960.

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Former President Obasanjo faces a challenging task in navigating the delicate geopolitical situation. Recent events include Somalia rejecting an Ethiopian flight destined for Somaliland, carrying representatives of the Ethiopian government. The PSC has emphasized adherence to fundamental principles of the African Union (AU) and international law in bilateral and international relations between Ethiopia and Somalia.

The AU regards Somaliland as a province of Somalia, adding complexity to the mediation efforts. Alongside appointing Obasanjo, the PSC has called for restraint from external interference in the matter. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened an extraordinary summit in Kampala, Uganda, to address the issue. However, Somalia has expressed its reluctance to engage in discussions with Ethiopia unless the latter reverses its January 1 agreement with Somaliland.

Obasanjo

“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia have been violated by Ethiopia when it signed an illegal agreement with the northern region [the administration of Somaliland] of Somalia. That is why there is no room for mediation unless Ethiopia reverses its illegal agreement and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia,” stated the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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