Somalia Rejects Unauthorised Ethiopian Plane Bound for Somaliland

In a significant development in the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, Somalia’s Civil Aviation Body has announced that it turned away an “unauthorised” Ethiopian plane, flight ET8372 D-8-Q400, from Somali airspace. The decision was made without further elaboration on the reasons behind it.

Local media reports suggest that the flight was carrying a senior Ethiopian delegation headed for Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. According to international air rules, flights must obtain proper permission and clearance from the countries they intend to enter, a point emphasized by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority.

This incident comes against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Somalia and Ethiopia following Ethiopia’s signing of a Red Sea access deal with Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region within Somalia’s borders. Somalia has vehemently rejected this agreement, deeming it “illegitimate,” a threat to good neighborliness, and a violation of its sovereignty.

In response to the deal, Somalia recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia on January 1. Ethiopia has defended the agreement, stating that it will not negatively impact any party or country and will enable Ethiopia to establish a permanent and reliable naval base and commercial maritime service in the Gulf of Aden.

Ethiopia lost its Red Sea ports during the early 1990s following the Eritrean War of Independence, which led to Eritrea gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1991. This separation resulted in Ethiopia losing direct access to the Red Sea and key ports.

Somaliland, despite its autonomy since 1991, lacks international recognition as an independent nation. The dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over this recent incident underscores the complex political dynamics in the region.

In addition, the United States, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League, and China have called on Ethiopia to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity amidst the ongoing tensions. Somalia’s decision to deny entry to the Ethiopian plane sends a strong message reaffirming its claim over Somaliland and emphasizes the challenges in resolving this complex issue.