Meanwhile, tensions have arisen following an incident on January 1, when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the "Somaliland Administration" in the Northwestern region of Somalia. The Somali federal government has categorically deemed this MOU as illegal and invalid, asserting that it violates the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moreover, the move is perceived as a threat to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa region.

The Somali government contends that the agreement undermines established norms and poses a risk to regional peace. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as concerns grow over the potential repercussions of this disputed memorandum on the broader geopolitical landscape.