Ethiopia Considering Scrapping Plan to Recognize Somaliland

Landlocked Ethiopia signed an initial agreement with Somaliland in January that would make it the first nation to recognize the sovereignty of the semi-autonomous region of Somalia, in return for 50 years of access to the Gulf of Aden. The accord triggered an uproar in neighboring countries, with Somalia saying it would defend its territorial integrity and Egypt and other nations urging caution. Currently with Kenya mediating, Ethiopia is considering scrapping the plan to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland. Joseph Seigel is the Director of Research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. He tells VOA’s Yeheyes Wuhib the dispute does not need to escalate. He says primarily it’s all about economics. He points out that there are a lot of shared interests between Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Somaliland.