A group of Somalis demonstrated on Friday, February 2, at the Ethiopian embassy in London against a January 1 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
Under the MoU, Ethiopia said it will recognize Somaliland as a country independent from the rest of Somalia in exchange for access to a port on the Gulf of Aden.
Somaliland is internationally recognized as a region of Somalia.
It is unclear how many people took part in the London protest but photos published on X showed a handful of people carrying placards and loudspeakers as well as British and Somali flags.
There were no reported arrests or confrontations between the protesters and British law enforcement personnel.
There were also no public comments by Ethiopia or the British authorities.
The deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia set off a diplomatic crisis between Somalia and Addis Ababa, with Mogadishu recalling its ambassador and labelling its neighbour an “enemy”.
Observers have warned that any escalation may destabilize the Horn of Africa further.
Somalia has ruled out talks with Ethiopia on the matter unless Addis Ababa cancelled the pact with Somaliland.
