Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has accused Ethiopia of attempting to annex part of Somali territory through a sea access agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland. The agreement, signed between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland's leader Muse Bihi Abdi on January 1, involves granting Ethiopia a 50-year lease on a naval base with access to the Berbera port for commercial marine operations. Somalia strongly objects to the deal, labeling it as an unauthorized border change.

President Mohamud's allegations were made at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, where he claimed that Ethiopian security forces had attempted to impede his access to the summit venue. The dispute stems from Ethiopia's desire for sea access and its perceived intentions to annex Somaliland, a move vehemently opposed by Somalia.

Despite Somalia warning of possible armed conflict to prevent the construction of an Ethiopian port in Somaliland, Ethiopian PM Abiy has downplayed fears of war. However, tensions remain high between the two countries as Somalia views any international recognition of Somaliland as an attack on its sovereignty.

The disagreement between Somalia and Ethiopia adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions at the AU summit. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also raised concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza during the two-day gathering, emphasizing the divisions among AU leaders regarding their support for Palestine.