Doha, Qatar (May 1, 2024) – At the recently concluded Third Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum in Doha, the Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs affirmed their solidarity and full support for the Federal Republic of Somalia’s position on its sovereignty over all its lands.
The ministers backed Somalia’s stance that considers the “Memorandum of Understanding” signed on January 1, 2024 between the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and the “Somaliland” region as null, void and unacceptable. They stated that this memorandum constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles of International Law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
“We reject this memorandum and any legal, political, commercial or military implications arising from it,” the declaration from the Forum stated. “We urge all countries to condemn and reject this memorandum.”
The ministers expressed concern that the Ethiopia-“Somaliland” memorandum is an attempt to benefit from creating a new geopolitical reality in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast and the Red Sea area. They considered it a threat to Arab national security and navigation in those vital waterways.
Somalia’s government has been consistent in asserting that the self-declared republic of “Somaliland” remains part of its sovereign territory. No country currently recognizes Somaliland as an independent state.
The Arab ministers reaffirmed their support for the Somali government’s efforts to preserve its sovereignty on land, sea and air under international law and the UN Charter. They backed Somalia’s right to legitimately defend its lands as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.
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