04:48Mandatory credit: UNTV. News use only
Somalian Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi accused Ethiopia of attempting an 'occupation and annexation' in the breakaway republic of Somaliland during a UNSC meeting in New York on Thursday, claiming Addis Ababa seeks to justify its 'aggression' under the 'guise of counterterrorism'.
"Let me be clear, the claim that Ethiopia is in Somalia to fight terrorism is a veil for their true intention of a pretext of occupation and annexation of Somalia territory," Fiqi told the council.
It comes amid heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, the self-governing region that unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
The pact sees the breakaway state leasing a Red Sea naval port to landlocked Ethiopia in exchange for recognition of Somaliland's independence, further straining ties between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, with the latter demanding that Ethiopian troops fighting al Shabaab in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) leave the country.
"As a landlocked nation, Ethiopia has no rightful claim to Somalia's territory for the establishment of a naval military base. Such action is a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability," Fiqi stated.
Ethiopia reportedly has 4,000 troops deployed in Somalia, and both Russia and the United States warned the dispute between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa could lead to a surge of Islamic terrorism in the region.
"We remain seriously concerned by the Al Shabaab potential. This terrorist group continues conducting large-scale attacks on government facilities, on Somalian National Army units, and against civilians and international organisation staff," said Anna Evstigneeva, Moscow's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.
"We support mediation efforts aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions amongst countries in the sub-region, and we hope that they will act wisely and ensure that each other's interests are duly taken into account," she continued.
Meanwhile, US representative Robert Wood said Washington is 'deeply concerned' by the rising tension between Ethiopia and Somalia, warning of its 'negative impact' on shared security interests.
"The United States joins the African Union and other international partners in reiterating our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia and rejecting any efforts to undermine it," Wood told the council.
"We support Turkey's mediation efforts and call for dialogue to de-escalate tensions. Regional tensions must not distract Somalia from critical state-building challenges or efforts to degrade Al-Shabab. Regional tensions also cannot interfere with planning for and deployment of a post-ATMUS mission," he added.
It comes after Somalia expelled Ethiopia's ambassador and accused its landlocked neighbour of smuggling arms over the border. Mediation efforts by Turkey failed after a planned third round of talks on September 17 was postponed indefinitely.
Somalian FM accuses Ethiopia of 'occupation and annexation' in breakaway Somaliland as tensions rise over port deal
Somalian Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi accused Ethiopia of attempting an 'occupation and annexation' in the breakaway republic of Somaliland during a UNSC meeting in New York on Thursday, claiming Addis Ababa seeks to justify its 'aggression' under the 'guise of counterterrorism'.
"Let me be clear, the claim that Ethiopia is in Somalia to fight terrorism is a veil for their true intention of a pretext of occupation and annexation of Somalia territory," Fiqi told the council.
It comes amid heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, the self-governing region that unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
The pact sees the breakaway state leasing a Red Sea naval port to landlocked Ethiopia in exchange for recognition of Somaliland's independence, further straining ties between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, with the latter demanding that Ethiopian troops fighting al Shabaab in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) leave the country.
"As a landlocked nation, Ethiopia has no rightful claim to Somalia's territory for the establishment of a naval military base. Such action is a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability," Fiqi stated.
Ethiopia reportedly has 4,000 troops deployed in Somalia, and both Russia and the United States warned the dispute between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa could lead to a surge of Islamic terrorism in the region.
"We remain seriously concerned by the Al Shabaab potential. This terrorist group continues conducting large-scale attacks on government facilities, on Somalian National Army units, and against civilians and international organisation staff," said Anna Evstigneeva, Moscow's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.
"We support mediation efforts aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions amongst countries in the sub-region, and we hope that they will act wisely and ensure that each other's interests are duly taken into account," she continued.
Meanwhile, US representative Robert Wood said Washington is 'deeply concerned' by the rising tension between Ethiopia and Somalia, warning of its 'negative impact' on shared security interests.
"The United States joins the African Union and other international partners in reiterating our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia and rejecting any efforts to undermine it," Wood told the council.
"We support Turkey's mediation efforts and call for dialogue to de-escalate tensions. Regional tensions must not distract Somalia from critical state-building challenges or efforts to degrade Al-Shabab. Regional tensions also cannot interfere with planning for and deployment of a post-ATMUS mission," he added.
It comes after Somalia expelled Ethiopia's ambassador and accused its landlocked neighbour of smuggling arms over the border. Mediation efforts by Turkey failed after a planned third round of talks on September 17 was postponed indefinitely.
Mandatory credit: UNTV. News use only
Somalian Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi accused Ethiopia of attempting an 'occupation and annexation' in the breakaway republic of Somaliland during a UNSC meeting in New York on Thursday, claiming Addis Ababa seeks to justify its 'aggression' under the 'guise of counterterrorism'.
"Let me be clear, the claim that Ethiopia is in Somalia to fight terrorism is a veil for their true intention of a pretext of occupation and annexation of Somalia territory," Fiqi told the council.
It comes amid heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, the self-governing region that unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
The pact sees the breakaway state leasing a Red Sea naval port to landlocked Ethiopia in exchange for recognition of Somaliland's independence, further straining ties between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, with the latter demanding that Ethiopian troops fighting al Shabaab in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) leave the country.
"As a landlocked nation, Ethiopia has no rightful claim to Somalia's territory for the establishment of a naval military base. Such action is a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability," Fiqi stated.
Ethiopia reportedly has 4,000 troops deployed in Somalia, and both Russia and the United States warned the dispute between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa could lead to a surge of Islamic terrorism in the region.
"We remain seriously concerned by the Al Shabaab potential. This terrorist group continues conducting large-scale attacks on government facilities, on Somalian National Army units, and against civilians and international organisation staff," said Anna Evstigneeva, Moscow's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.
"We support mediation efforts aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions amongst countries in the sub-region, and we hope that they will act wisely and ensure that each other's interests are duly taken into account," she continued.
Meanwhile, US representative Robert Wood said Washington is 'deeply concerned' by the rising tension between Ethiopia and Somalia, warning of its 'negative impact' on shared security interests.
"The United States joins the African Union and other international partners in reiterating our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia and rejecting any efforts to undermine it," Wood told the council.
"We support Turkey's mediation efforts and call for dialogue to de-escalate tensions. Regional tensions must not distract Somalia from critical state-building challenges or efforts to degrade Al-Shabab. Regional tensions also cannot interfere with planning for and deployment of a post-ATMUS mission," he added.
It comes after Somalia expelled Ethiopia's ambassador and accused its landlocked neighbour of smuggling arms over the border. Mediation efforts by Turkey failed after a planned third round of talks on September 17 was postponed indefinitely.