MOGADISHU– Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the recent Ethiopia- Somaliland agreement Somaliland, which he said violates Somalia’s sovereignty and independence.

He warned Ethiopia against meddling in the affairs of Somalia and at the same time called on it to respect the existing domestic and international laws.

President Mohamud noted that Somalia and Ethiopia have enjoyed good neighbourhood but their diplomatic relations have been riddled by conflict over the years.

He said that any attempts by Ethiopia to infiltrate in to the Somali terrorist will led to the resurgence of terror as it happened previously where Al-Shabab was born out of the Melee Zinawi interference.

Mohamud urged the Somali people to come together and defend the territorial integrity of Somalia outlining that his administration is fully committed to protecting the independence of the country from foreign interference.

He implored Somaliland not to be misled by Ethiopia saying it has no power to grant them recognition.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in his address at a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day highlighted the need for concerted efforts to defend the territorial integrity of Somalia and urged Somali people to exercise restraints as the Federal government sorts out the issue through the legal mechanisms available.

Waxaan rabaa inaan u xaqiijiyo Ummadda Soomaaliyeed in ay naga go'an tahay difaaca dalkeena. pic.twitter.com/MwOVRgIZkv

— Hamza Abdi Barre (@HamzaAbdiBarre) January 2, 2024

Their remarks comes barely hours after Somalia summoned its Ambassador to Ethiopia and ordered for the closure of the Ethiopian Embassy in the capital Mogadishu.

The development comes after Somalia accused Somaliland of signing an agreement with Ethiopia to grant Ethiopia access to the Red sea.

Somali leaders have also voiced their opposition to the deal teeming it illegal and null and void.