The United States on Wednesday rejected international recognition for breakaway Somaliland and called for calm after the region’s leaders signed a deal with Ethiopia.

Somalia accused landlocked Ethiopia of attacking its sovereignty after Addis Ababa reached the agreement with Somaliland that gives long-sought access to the Red Sea.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate of about 4.5 million people, declared independence from Somalia in 1991, a move not recognized internationally and staunchly opposed by Mogadishu.