Key Points
- Ruto and Museveni step in to mediate between Ethiopia and Somalia.
- Tensions rise over Ethiopia’s port plans in Somaliland.
- Somali officials express confidence in Turkey’s mediation efforts.
President William Ruto of Kenya announced on Saturday that he and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda would cooperate in mediating a conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia that threatens the stability of the Horn of Africa.
Somaliland’s port plan escalates tensions in the Horn of Africa
Ethiopia, a landlocked country, has hundreds of troops fighting terrorists with ties to al-Qaeda in Somalia. But as Ethiopia revealed plans to construct a port in Somaliland, a self-declared independent entity in northern Somalia, tensions have increased. The government of Somalia, which views the action as a threat to its territorial integrity, is incensed.
Since claiming independence in 1991, Somaliland has been self-governing and has long fought for international recognition. It has not received much recognition as an autonomous state, despite being more peaceful and stable than the rest of Somalia.
The conflict has intensified further as a result of Ethiopia’s proposal to assist Somaliland in developing a port in return for possible recognition of its independence.
Egypt, which has been at odds with Ethiopia for years over the building of a huge hydroelectric project on the Nile River, has also become closer to Somalia as a result of the dispute. The problem has made an already complicated regional relationship even more tense.
The conflict has also caused Ethiopia’s other adversary, Eritrea, to ally itself more closely with Somalia.
“Because the security of Somalia contributes significantly to the stability of our region, and the environment for investors and entrepreneurs to thrive,” Ruto said, underscoring the significance of Somalia’s stability for the larger region. He made these remarks at a news conference held in Nairobi at a regional heads of state summit.
Numerous prior attempts to settle the conflict in Ankara, Turkey, have not resulted in significant advancements.
Somali officials hopeful about ongoing mediation efforts
On the fringes of the conference, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, met with Ruto and Museveni; however, his administration made no mention of any particular mediation talks.
Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the foreign minister of Somalia, expressed scepticism over the effectiveness of earlier resolutions but showed faith in the current mediation efforts spearheaded by Turkey.
Requests for response were not immediately answered by representatives of Ethiopia’s government or foreign affairs.
According to Reuters, regional authorities are trying to stop more unrest in a volatile region as a result of the growing tensions in the Horn of Africa, which continue to attract the attention of international actors.
