Somalia and Ethiopia are at odds with each other over Somaliland’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) due to various reasons which include:
Somaliland Recognition: Somaliland sought out autonomy from Somalia in 1991 when it officially declared itself independent. Nevertheless, this claim has not won international recognition. For this reason, Somalia consistently views Ethiopia’s interaction with Somaliland as seeking to compromise its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the region.
Economic Agreements: Trade infrastructure development and other interactions, which entail the signing of treaties, are common in the MoUs. These agreements are seen by Somalia to be efforts by Ethiopia to expand its control over the region by seeking to validate Somaliland’s self-rule.
Regional Instability: In Somalia’s perspective, Ethiopia’s backing of Somaliland is likely to cause disintegration, a great concern because it may create a precedent whereby other regions will also agitate for self-rule.
Historical Context: Ethiopia has had an intricate history with both Somalia and Somaliland, frequently intervening in the disputes and aiding different groups in order to control the Horn of Africa.
Geopolitical Interests: The interactions are also complicated by the presence of external players and particular strategic interests such as that of the United States and the Gulf alternatives.
These factors exacerbate the relations between the two countries since Somalia is not willing to look on as Ethiopia continues to expand its influence in the region.
