Landlocked Ethiopia signed a deal with Somaliland that makes it the first nation to recognize the sovereignty of the semi-autonomous region of Somalia, in return for access to the Gulf of Aden. The accord triggered a diplomatic uproar, with Somalia saying it would defend its territorial integrity. With Kenya mediating, Ethiopia is considering scrapping the plan. Joseph Siegle, the director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, tells VOA's Yeheyes Wuhib the dispute need not escalate.