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Mogadishu (HOL) – Tensions in the Horn of Africa escalated further as Somalia officially rejected Ethiopia’s request to participate in an upcoming multinational naval exercise set to take place in Somali territorial waters.
The move comes amid rising diplomatic friction stemming from Ethiopia’s maritime agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Somali authorities cited clear violations of international law and a breach of national sovereignty as grounds for denying Ethiopia’s participation in the drills.
“Somalia has rejected Ethiopia’s request to participate in a multinational military exercise in Somali territorial waters, citing violations of international law and the country’s sovereign maritime rights,” a senior Somali official confirmed.
The naval drill, which involves several regional and international partners, is part of Somalia’s effort to strengthen maritime security and promote cooperation in the fight against piracy, illegal fishing, and arms smuggling.
However, officials in Mogadishu have made it clear that Ethiopia’s involvement is not welcome while tensions remain high over the controversial port access deal Addis Ababa signed earlier this year with Somaliland — a region Somalia considers an integral part of its territory.
In January, Ethiopia announced it had reached a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland that would grant it access to the Red Sea through a leased naval base.
Somalia condemned the agreement as an illegal infringement on its sovereignty, declaring it null and void under international law.
Despite calls from international observers for calm, relations between the two neighboring nations have grown increasingly strained.
Somalia has repeatedly accused Ethiopia of meddling in its internal affairs and violating its territorial integrity.
The latest rejection marks a significant diplomatic snub, as regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa continues to be tested by competing geopolitical ambitions and unresolved territorial disputes.
