Protests and resignation roil Somaliland over Ethiopia Red Sea deal

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Protests and resignation roil Somaliland over Ethiopia Red Sea deal

HARGEISA (HORN OBSERVER) – Over the weekend, protests erupted in Burco and Borama in Somaliland, reflecting mixed sentiments towards the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland, in which Somaliland leas

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Borama, situated in the Awdal region, saw residents opposing the Ethiopian-Somaliland deal.

HARGEISA (HORN OBSERVER) – Over the weekend, protests erupted in Burco and Borama in Somaliland, reflecting mixed sentiments towards the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland, in which Somaliland leased 20 kilometre of coast land to Addis Ababa.

The demonstrations followed the spokesperson of the Somali Ministry of Defense’s suggestion to recruit insurgents in both Somaliland and Ethiopia to obstruct the MOU signed last week.

While Burco witnessed protests largely in support of the MOU, Borama, situated in the Awdal region on the Ethiopian border, saw residents opposing the deal, even threatening insurgency against Hargeisa.

Initially planned as a celebration endorsing the MOU, the Borama protest eventually transformed into an opposition movement.

In a surprising development, Somaliland’s Minister of Defense, Abdiqani Mohamud Ateye, hailing from the Isse clan of the Awdal region, resigned on Sunday, citing dissatisfaction with the MOU with Ethiopia.

Simultaneously, armed clan militias in the Awdal region issued a statement denouncing Ethiopia and warning of armed resistance if the MOU proceeds.

Security analysts in the region note that the situation appears to be escalating, driven by social media influence and perhaps with Somali government influencers urging locals to rise against Somaliland.

This heightened tension raises concerns of potential ethnic violence between the Isse and Isaq clans in the Awdal region, posing a threat to the border security shared between Ethiopia and Somaliland.