Friday 20 Sep 2024 {HMC} The administration of the Hiiraan region in Hirshabelle state has warned the Ethiopian government about actions that threaten Somalia’s sovereignty along the Hiiraan-Ethiopia border.
In a statement released on Friday, the Hiiraan administration reaffirmed that Somalia’s borders are the responsibility of the Federal Government, represented by Hirshabelle, a member state of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The Hiiraan administration stated that it would not tolerate any violation of the country’s territorial integrity, condemning efforts to form mercenary groups associated with al-Shabab terrorism in the region.
They urged security forces to strengthen border protection and called on residents to remain vigilant against what they termed as “enemy acts” aimed at undermining Somalia’s sovereignty.
Diplomatic tension between Ethiopia and Somalia has escalated following a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometres (12 miles) of its coast for 50 years to Ethiopia, which wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port. Somaliland has said Ethiopia would give it formal recognition in return, although Addis Ababa has never confirmed this.
Somalia considers the MoU a breach of its territorial integrity, with the Somali government rejecting the deal and accusing Ethiopia of undermining its sovereignty.
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