Ethiopia-Somaliland Deal Going Forward

 The International Crisis Group posted on 7 February 2024 a 36-minute podcast titled "Somalia, Somaliland and the Explosive Port Deal" with Alan Boswell and Omar Mahmood.

The discussion focused on the reaction of Somalia, the possibility that the deal may contribute to conflict in the region, and the position of Ethiopia and Somaliland going forward.  From Somaliland's perspective the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is straightforward acceptance of a 50-year lease for a naval base on its coast in exchange for Ethiopian recognition of Somaliland. 

Details of the MOU have still not been made public.  At this point, it seems to be more of a declaration of intent.  For example, there is no agreement where Ethiopia's naval base will be located, although it apparently will not be at Somaliland's current port of Berbera.   

Tensions Growing Between Ethiopia and Somalia

 The Soufan Center, an independent and non-profit research organization based in New York, published on 11 January 2024 an intel brief titled "Tensions Growing Between Ethiopia and Somalia over Somaliland Port Deal."

The analysis notes that the proposed deal is backed by the United Arab Emirates.  On the other hand, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, Egypt, and Turkiye have sided with Somalia against the Ethiopia-Somaliland deal.  

Most African Countries Support China on Human Rights in Xinjiang

 The Associated Press published on 6 October 2022 an article titled "UN Rights Body Rejects Western Bid to Debate Xinjiang Abuses" by Jamey Keaten.  

The 47-member UN Human Rights Council in a victory for China voted against holding a debate on alleged human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang region.  The proposal supported by the United States, Turkey, United Kingdom, and mostly western countries received 17 positive votes, 19 against, and 11 abstentions.  

Among African members, only Somalia supported the proposal while 8 countries (Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Gabon, Mauritania, Namibia, Senegal, and Sudan) voted against and 4 countries (Benin, Gambia, Libya, and Malawi) abstained.  

For a breakdown of the vote, see the Voice of America's 7 October 2022 "Human Rights Groups, China Voice Strong, Opposing Reactions to UN Vote" by Asim Kashgarian.  

Why Arab Countries Support China's Xinjiang Policies

 The National Interest published on 24 October 2020 an article titled "Why the Muslim Middle East Supports China's Xinjiang Crackdown" by Adam Lammon.

The author suggests that Arab countries, including Morocco and Egypt in North Africa, and non-Arab Muslim countries in the Middle East support China's crackdown on Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang for several reasons.  First, China has strong economic ties with most of these countries and can use these ties for political leverage.  Second, the leaders of these countries loathe political Islam, which they associate with terrorism.  They are willing to accept China's explanation for the crackdown on Uyghurs as a counterterrorism campaign.  

Foreign Policy of Somalia

Somalia issued in December 2015 a comprehensive statement titled "Foreign Policy of Somalia."  Importantly, the statement emphasizes the need for regional cooperation and integration and does not mention Somalia's long-standing policy of incorporating the Somali-inhabited regions of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti into the Somali state. 

Somalia's Humanitarian Crisis

Several Islamic relief organizations that have been active in Somalia have proposed a number of common sense recommendations for meeting humanitarian needs there. This document was brought to my attention by one of the organizations operating in Somalia during a meeting last week at Chatham House in London on Turkey's role in the Horn of Africa.

Click here to read Back from the Brink: 10 Ways the International Community Must Address Somalia's Humanitarian Crisis.