EGYPT will back Somalia’s efforts to block a deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland that would give Ethiopia access to seaports and a possible naval base, the Somali government said today.

Somaliland is an internationally unrecognised breakaway territory of Somalia, and the latter said that Ethiopia’s initiative constituted “aggression” and violated its sovereignty.

Ethiopia has lacked a coastline since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said access to the sea is an “existential” question for his country. The Somaliland deal would give it commercial and naval use of seaports and a 50-year lease of part of the coast, in return for a promise of diplomatic recognition at an unspecified date.

Somalia has vowed to use all legal means to block the deal and has reached out to Egypt and Qatar to urge a mobilisation of Arab states against it.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 but has official relations with only a handful of countries.