"Somalia Recalls Envoy, Defends Sovereignty Amid Ethiopia-Somaliland Pact"
Somalia has condemned a deal between Ethiopia and the self-declared independent region of Somaliland, which grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in exchange for recognizing Somaliland's independence. The Somali government views this as a violation of its sovereignty and unity, and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called the agreement a disgrace. The deal includes a 50-year lease for sea access and permission for Ethiopia to build a military base. Somalia has appealed to the UN Security Council and the African Union for intervention, while the Islamist group al-Shabab also denounced the deal, vowing to defend Somali territory.