The defense minister of the self-declared republic of Somaliland has become the latest casualty of the row over a controversial agreement that is causing ructions in the Horn of Africa. Abdiqani Ateye resigned saying that cabinet ministers should have been consulted over a deal that Somaliland struck with Ethiopia that could see it leasing part of its coastline to its landlocked neighbor. Somalia – which considers Somaliland to be part of its territory – reacted angrily to the 1 January deal, calling it an act of aggression. Both the US and the African Union have backed the territorial integrity of Somalia and urged all parties to cool tensions.

Source : BBC