Nairobi, Jan. 6 -- Somalia ignored a call from Ethiopian officials who were this week working to de-escalate tensions after Mogadishu protested against port and sea access deal between Addis Ababa and breakaway region Somaliland.

Two diplomats at the regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) indicated that Ethiopia sought to calm the tensions by placing a call to Mogadishu, which elicited no response.

Neither Mogadishu nor Addis publicly confirmed any rapprochement, but our sources said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sought to reassure Mogadishu that he wasn't seeking to violate its territorial integrity.

Somalia declared the pact between Addis and Hargeisa null and void and promptly recalled its envoy in Addis Ababa....