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Tens of thousands of Somali residents gathered at the Conis Stadium in the Somali capital on Thursday to protest against Ethiopia's recent agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland.
The protesters, waving Somali flags and chanting slogans, expressed their anger and frustration over what they see as a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ethiopia is believed to have been granted an exclusive lease on the sea for a period of 50 years, which has raised concerns about Somalia's maritime rights and security as a result.
The Mogadishu regional administration organized the rally to allow residents to voice their concerns regarding the perceived encroachment on Somalia's maritime territory.
The regional governor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, addressed the crowd and said that Somalia would not accept any deal that undermines its national interests.
"We are here to send a clear message to Ethiopia and Somaliland that we will not tolerate any interference in our waters. We will defend our sovereignty and unity at all costs," he said.
He also called on the federal government of Somalia to take a firm stance on the issue and to seek international arbitration if necessary.
Somalia and Somaliland have been locked in a long-standing dispute over the status of the latter, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.
Ethiopia, which shares a border with Somaliland, has maintained close ties with the self-declared state and has invested heavily in its infrastructure and development.
However, Somalia considers Somaliland as part of its territory and has repeatedly rejected its secessionist claims.
The Ethiopian-Somaliland deal, which was signed in February, has sparked a diplomatic row between the two neighboring countries, with Somalia accusing Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty and undermining its stability.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, has defended its agreement with Somaliland as a matter of economic cooperation and mutual benefit.
The deal, which is yet to be made public, reportedly involves the development of a port and a free trade zone in the coastal town of Berbera, which is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden.
The deal is also seen as part of Ethiopia's efforts to diversify its access to the sea, as it currently relies heavily on the port of Djibouti for its imports and exports.
The protesters, however, fear that the deal will give Ethiopia undue influence and control over Somaliland and the surrounding waters, which could pose a threat to Somalia's interests and security.
They also worry that the deal will embolden Somaliland's separatist aspirations and undermine the ongoing dialogue and reconciliation efforts between the two sides.
The protesters urged the international community to intervene and to respect Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They also called for more unity and solidarity among the Somali people and regions in the face of external challenges and threats.
