Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he had “no interest in getting involved in a war” as tensions mount over his deal with a breakaway Somali region.
In January, land-locked Ethiopia signed an agreement with the separatist region of Somaliland to lease a stretch of its coastline for 50 years. The deal sparked outrage in Somalia, which has refused to accept Somaliland’s independence since it was declared in 1991.
Speaking to his parliament, Abiy described the deal as a “development agreement” based on its long-standing need for maritime access.
“We have demanded access to the sea, which is what it is all about. We will not take offensive action, but we will defend ourselves effectively if something happens,” he said.
Somalia has described Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland as “illegal.”
It expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador in April.
