President Hassan Sheikh on his Friday Prayer sermon addressed the nation and said, “This MoU [between Ethiopia and separatist Somaliland] is all about taking and seizing or giving away a piece of Somalia’s coastline and the real estate around it. Everything else on it like ‘we are renting it for business purposes,’ and so on and so forth are all meaningless. You don’t give away land.”
PRESIDENT HASSAN SHEIKH CALLING BORDER WITH ETHIOPIA 'FAKE' FIERCELY DEFENDS SOMALIA'S UNITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
In what has so far been his most remarkable defense of Somalia's unity and territorial integrity, President Hassan Sheikh @HassanSMohamud lashed out at Ethiopia… pic.twitter.com/nOW7nodaQU
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) January 5, 2024
An absolutely livid President Hassan Sheikh continued, “giving away our land 20 KM of Somalia’s coastline and the land extending all the way to the fake border with Ethiopia is unreasonable and unacceptable.”
President Hassan, reprimanding those countries who have yet to show support, said, “I thank sincerely to those countries who supported Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are our brothers, they are real friends of Somalia. For the others who are still quiet and in hiding, let me tell you brothers, our relations with you will take a turn for the worse, but know you will not hurt Somalia; and you can’t give away our land to another country. Cast the die and make up your mind. Somalia owns this land. Somalia used to own this land. Somalia will own this land for eternity.”
PRESIDENT HASSAN SHEIKH REPRIMANDS COUNTRIES WHO HAVE YET TO SUPPORT SOMALIA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity is under attack by Ethiopia, and for the first time President Hassan Sheikh while thanking a number of countries… pic.twitter.com/stCNAc13iC
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) January 5, 2024
China is one of the countries in hiding and has yet to stand with Somalia. Historically, China is known as a staunch supporter of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, since China has started investing heavily in Ethiopia and Kenya, it has become a de facto partner of these two countries, and of course, one that exploits Somalia to the fullest degree possible, mainly marine degradation through bottom trawling fishing fleets, and non payment of fees and taxes levied on China’s undersea cables that traverse in Somalia’s territorial waters. These fleets have recently killed a Somali fisherman off the coast of Puntland, and a lawsuit is pending.
In addition, China, through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for digital dominance in Africa, has invested in Kenya and tacitly encouraged Kenya to claim Somalia’s territorial waters. Together with Kenya, China has to date avoided paying fees and taxes to Somalia for the undersea cables that go through Somalia waters, which is one of many reasons Kenya claims Somalia’s territorial waters.
China isn’t only silent on Ethiopia’s unprovoked attack on Somalia’s territorial integrity, but China has remained silent on Somalia-Kenya legal battles, and is accused of, behind the scenes, working with Kenya to the detriment of Somalia.
Now that Ethiopia’s invasion of northern Somalia is underway, China by remaining silent, for all intents and purposes, has sided with Ethiopia. And all along, China has also been accused by many of tacitly working behind the scenes with Ethiopia.
Examples of China’s double dealings to the detriment of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity include, undersea cable landing on Saylac coast already planned with Ethiopia, and work is underway. A 1,700 KM train tracks to Saylac has also been in the works since 2021.
Historically, China is known as a staunch supporter of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. However, since China has started investing heavily in Ethiopia and Kenya, it has …@HassanSMohamud @HamzaAbdiBarre@FeiShengchao @drhossamsamy65https://t.co/mAnpddufXm
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) January 4, 2024
With China now playing geopolitical games of high brinksmanship, why doesn’t Villa Somalia summon China’s Ambassador Fei Shengchao and pop the question, “is China a friend of Somalia or a foe?” And while at it, President Hassan Sheikh should ask Ambassador Shengchao, why does he so often meet with Muktar Mohamed Ware of Abiy Ahmed’s Oromo ethnic group, Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia in Mogadishu?
China along with the UAE are the biggest investors in Ethiopia. While the UAE is alleged to direct Ethiopia’s foreign and defense policy, China is the biggest arms seller to Ethiopia. President Hassan Sheikh should be true to his Friday Prayer Sermon, find out who is a foe and who is a friend, and summon the Chinese Ambassador.
Daljir Media | Contributed to by Daljir staff in Garoowe, Mogadishu and Nairobi
COMMENTS