Joe Biden‘s administration has been blamed for pushing a shock communique at the G7 which has potentially setback efforts to defeat Houthi terrorists trying to cut off one of the world’s main shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
Sources have told Express.co.uk that the US delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed for a communique attacking a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Somaliand, a former British protectorate, and Ethipopia.
The MoU backed the claims of “failed state” Somalia to Somaliland even though Somaliland has been a successful indepedent democracy since 1991.
The strong wording of the G7 communique is a major blow for Somaliland after Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps had hinted in recent months that the UK could recognise the African state which has enormnlus strategic value at the entrance to the Red Sea with its major port Berbera.
The statement was issued at a meeting of foreign ministers from the G7 major economies in Naples and has now apparently tied in the UK as well with claims that officials in the Foeign Office were reluctant to push for a new status for Somaliland.
The communique said: “We express our concern regarding the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and the Somaliland region of Somalia announced in January 2024.
“We encourage both the Ethiopian and the Federal Government of Somalia to keep all channels of dialogue open to prevent further escalation, working with regional partners, in the framework of the African Union and through bilateral contacts, in accordance with international law and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the UN Charter.”
Referring to the military efforts against the Houthis in the Straight of Arden and red Sea, one well placed source said: “This could be catastrophic going forward.”
A source in Washington said: “I’m hearing its US pressure. They can’t stand up to the Somalis it seems. Very backwards.”
There is speculation that the US pushing for this wording has come from Barack Obama’s decision to support Somalia’s claims to Somaliland when he was President and Biden was his Vice President.
Added to that hard left Democrat Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is of Somalian heritage, recently claimed that she could stop the Biden admnitration from recognising Somaliland.
The communique comes shortly after a recent visit by British MPs to Somaliland where there was support for an unrecognised country which has become “a beacon of democracy” in the region.
One of the MPs Alexander Stafford expressed his fury at the G7 communique.
The Tory MP for Rother Valley said: “This is a disgusting neo-colonial attitude from the G7. They should not be interfering in this matter. It is up to the elected Ethiopian and Somaliand Government, and them alone, as to who they sign treaties with.”
The efforts to recognise Somaliland in the UK have been led by former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Reacting to the G7 communique, he told Express.co.uk: “It shows how out of touch the G7 is. Somalia is a failed state with the government in Mogadishu supporting and backing terrorist groups such as Al shabab who work to damage our interests.
“It is time the UK and US government started to deal with the reality of politics on the ground and showed leadership as against the failed policies of the past.”
Meanwhile, a former US Ambassador Dr J. Peter Pham pointed out the contrast between Somalia and Somaliland.
He said: “Officials announce November 13 date for 1-person-1-vote polls in Somaliland, the 9th general election there since independence was reclaimed in 1991. In contrast, the benighted subjects of rump Somalia have been waiting since 1969 for the privilege of merely casting a ballot.”
Some in Somaliland have taken hope from the conmunique for failing to have an outright condemnation of the communique. However, the government of Somalia has issued a statement welcoming the G7 communique.
The international problems date back to 1960.
Somaliland was a UK protectorate that became the 17th African country to be given full independence on June 26 1960 but within days it united with Somalia. However, after years of persecution and ethnic tensions, Somaliland declared independence in 1991 using its original boundaries as the British protectorate but has not been officially recognised for 33 years.
With its port Berbera on the Gulf of Arden and near the Red Sea, Somaliland is a strategically vital place to tackle the Houthi attacks on shipping in the world’s busiest trade lane which has seen both the UK and US drawn into action.
Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland came about because it needed access to a major port but has seen huge diplomatic tensions break out with Somalia who have condemned the move.
However, western countries had said that Somaliland recogntion was dependent on African countries leading the way and it had been hoped that Ethiopia’s decision would see a change in attitude.
Tyler Mitchell