Somalia rejects mediation efforts with Ethiopia over port dealSomalia rejected any discussions with Ethiopia about Addis Ababa's agreement to lease a port in Somaliland, as regional heads of state gathered on Thursday to try to defuse a growing diplomatic crisis.
"There is no space for mediation unless Ethiopia retracts its illegal MOU and reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia," Somalia's ministry of foreign affairs said.
Heads of state from a regional group, the eight-member Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and representatives from AU and other African countries met in Entebbe, Uganda, to seek a peaceful solution.
The meeting sought to deliberate on recent developments concerning the diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as the prevailing situation in Sudan.
Igad underscored the necessity of engaging in constructive dialogue and implementing de-escalation measures to mitigate tensions and cultivate harmonious relations between the two nations.
