Somalia PM: We don't want to revive old painful memories with Ethiopia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has remained fairly calm despite threats by Ethiopia to grab part of its land along the Red Sea, Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre has said, while challenging Ethiopia to rescind its decision to sign an agreement with Somaliland.

The government of Ethiopia signed an agreement which has since been termed illegal, with the breakaway region of Somaliland, whose implementation would see the country gain 20 kilometers of access to the Red Sea for military base and port, in return for recognition of the region as sovereignty state.

But in an interview, Barre maintained that Somalia has tried to embrace diplomacy while calling on Ethiopia to reciprocate. To date, he argued, Ethiopian peacemakers remain in Somalia just like the ambassador, who is yet to be locked out of Mogadishu.

"We have tried on our side to exercise restraint - their (Ethiopia) troops are here, we didn’t tell them to leave; their embassy is here, we didn’t expel their ambassador; their planes come here, we didn’t stop them…we are doing all of that because we want good neighbourly," he said.

"We are not ready to revive an old painful history and old wounds….we hope Ethiopia will retract this illegal MoU…we will not accept violations against our sovereignty and territorial integrity, it’s non-negotiable," added the Prime Minister.

Ethiopia has yet to withdraw the MoU despite pressure from members of the international community, who insist that the agreement should not stand. But the Horn of Africa nation maintains the agreement was 'commercial ' noting that 'we are not interested with occupation '.

Ethiopia has for a long time tried to look for access to the sea after Eritrea was hived from it in 1993, following years of violence in the far north. Somaliland region which declared self-independence is still part of Somalia since it has not been recognised internationally.

On its part, Somalia has insisted that it will not allow Ethiopia's occupation, noting that the United Nations and African Union should declare their stand on the conflict. Ironically, the agreement was shared a few days after the region held a meeting with Somalia's leadership in Djibouti.

GAROWE ONLINE