In a virtual address to the Arab League emergency meeting on Wednesday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre accused the Ethiopian government of planning an attack on Somali waters. Barre alleged that Ethiopia aims to target Arab countries along the Red Sea, intending to create a new demographic reality in the region.
Speaking from the capital Mogadishu, Barre called on Arab nations to stand in solidarity with Somalia. He urged them to join forces to confront and thwart what he described as Ethiopia’s plan to control the entrances to the Red Sea, posing a threat to global trade and navigation.
During his virtual address, Barre highlighted the perceived danger posed by Ethiopia and stressed the need for collective action. This statement followed an incident where Mogadishu denied entry to an “unauthorized” Ethiopian plane bound for Somaliland through Somali airspace.
Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia escalated after Ethiopia signed a Red Sea access deal with Somaliland. Somalia rejected the agreement, deeming it “illegitimate,” a threat to neighborly relations, and a violation of its sovereignty. Consequently, Somalia recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia on January 1.
The Ethiopian government defended its decision, asserting that the agreement would not adversely affect any party or country. The deal grants Ethiopia a permanent and reliable naval base, along with commercial maritime service access in the Gulf of Aden.
Ethiopia lost its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s after the Eritrean War of Independence, resulting in Eritrea gaining independence in 1991. This separation left Ethiopia without direct access to the Red Sea and key ports, motivating its recent efforts to secure maritime access in the region.
