No war to access sea, says Ethiopia prime minister

As the quality betwixt Somalia and Ethiopia implicit oversea entree escalates, Ethiopia's premier curate connected Thursday said his state was seeking entree to the Red Sea "through peaceful means."

Speaking astatine the parliament wherever helium was questioned by lawmakers, Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia has a "clear stance" connected the issue.

"Let the satellite perceive today, Ethiopia maintains a wide nationalist involvement — it needs Red Sea entree done peaceful means," helium said.

"If we bash not succeed, our children will," Abiy added.

Somalia and Ethiopia person been progressive successful a heated diplomatic quality since Addis Ababa successful January signed a memorandum of knowing (MOU) with the self-proclaimed autarkic republic of Somaliland, a determination Somalia sees arsenic infringing connected its sovereignty.

Ethiopia and Somaliland defended the MOU which, if implemented, would springiness Somaliland designation from landlocked Ethiopia successful instrumentality for the leasing of astir 20 kilometers of seafront, according to Somaliland officials.

Speaking astatine the United Nations General Assembly past month, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Somalia faced a "serious threat" from Ethiopia for signing a oversea entree woody with Somaliland.

Barre said Somali ports person ever been accessible for Ethiopia's morganatic commercialized activities but alleged that Ethiopia has different motives.

"Ethiopia's attempts to annex parts of Somalia nether the guise of securing oversea entree are some unlawful and unnecessary," Barre said.

Barre warned that Ethiopia's attack and woody with Somaliland could "embolden secessionist movements."

Abiy connected Thursday denied immoderate involvement successful annexation.

"When we signed the MOU with Somaliland, we requested a 99-year lease, but they didn't agree, and we signed a 50-year lease agreement," helium said.

"How tin a 50-year lease beryllium an annexation?" Abiy asked.

Abiy told MPs that Ethiopia did not person immoderate docket successful Somalia different than entree to the sea.

"Ethiopia is simply a state which has the second-largest Somali colonisation successful the satellite adjacent to Somalia. They are our brothers," helium said.

Ethiopia has respective 1000 troops successful Somalia helping its authorities successful its conflict against Islamist extremists.

Somalia connected Tuesday expelled an Ethiopian diplomat, accusing him of engaging successful "activities incompatible with his diplomatic role."

Somalia did not specify the actions allegedly committed by Ali Mohamed Adan, a counsellor astatine Ethiopia's embassy successful Mogadishu, but said successful a connection that they "constitute a breach of the Vienna Convention connected Diplomatic Relations."

Abiy did not remark connected the expulsion of the diplomat during the league astatine Parliament.

This communicative originated successful VOA's Horn of Africa service.