Somalia’s parliament ratifies defense agreement with Turkey

Somalia

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s parliament on Wednesday endorsed a defense and economic agreement cooperation agreement signed with Turkey on February 8 as part of efforts to counter Ethiopia’s access to the sea through the break-away region of Somaliland.

Speaking after the deal was ratified in a joint session of the two chambers of the Somali parliament, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Turkey will help Somalia defend its sea.

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre described the agreement as “historic”, saying that it will help authorities prevent piracy, terrorism, toxic dumping and other external threats.

The deal comes weeks after Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somaliland to gain access to a parcel of land along the Red Sea, in what authorities in Mogadishu called illegal and an infringement on the Horn of Africa country’s sovereignty.

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