Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has warned that his country will “humiliate“ any other country that threatens its sovereignty as tensions continue to rise in the eastern part of Africa, AFP reported, quoted by BTA.
Africa's second largest country is landlocked and has been embroiled in a dispute with neighboring Somalia over an agreement it struck with the breakaway region of Somaliland. Its relations with Egypt are also strained over Ethiopia's project for a massive dam on the Blue Nile.
„They won't touch us! "We will humiliate anyone who dares to threaten us," Abiy Ahmed said during last night's Independence Day ceremony held in the capital Addis Ababa.
„We will not negotiate with anyone for the sovereignty and dignity of Ethiopia”, he added.
Last month, Ethiopia accused unnamed actors of trying to “destabilize the region” when Egypt sent military equipment to Somalia after Cairo and Mogadishu struck a military cooperation agreement.
Egypt has also offered to deploy forces to Somalia under a new African Union-led mission that will replace the current mission, known as ATMIS, next year.
Ethiopia currently has an increased presence in ATMIS, which is helping Somali forces fight against the jihadist group “Ash Shabab”.
But Mogadishu is outraged by the January agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland that gives Addis Ababa much-desired access to the sea, describing it as a blow to Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Under the agreement, Somaliland agrees to lease 20 km. from its coast to Ethiopia, which wants to establish a naval base and commercial port in the area.
According to Somaliland, in return, Ethiopia will formally recognize it, although this has never been confirmed by Addis Ababa.
Turkey is currently mediating indirect talks between Ethiopia and Somalia to try to resolve the dispute, but so far there has been no breakthrough.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate with a population of about 4.5 million, declared independence in 1993, but it was rejected by Mogadishu and not recognized by the international community.
Cairo and Addis Ababa have been at loggerheads in recent years, trading blows over a massive dam being built by Ethiopia, which Egypt says threatens its fragile water security.