Ethiopia and Somaliland Ink a Memorandum of Understanding over Seaport Access

Date:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Ethiopian Prime Minister and the Somaliland President will reportedly allow Ethiopia to lease access to the Red Sea where it will build a military base and a port. But details are still sketchy.

Ethiopia has been stern in recent months in its position that it wants to obtain a seaport. This has triggered a series of statements from neighbouring countries- notably Djibouti, Eritrea and Somali, vowing their commitment to their sovereignty. Addis Ababa has maintained it wanted to explore all peaceful avenues to gain a seaport access.

On 1 January an MoU signed between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. According to senior officials the deal will allow Ethiopia to develop a port and a military base. But the details have not emerged. One report said Somaliland will have a stake from Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier. While another said Addis Ababa will be the first African country to recognize Somaliland. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia some three decades ago, but it still does not have international recognition. If true, this could prompt diplomatic tensions with Mogadishu which still sees Somaliland as its province.

In 2018 Ethiopia signed a deal with Somaliland to own 19 percent of Berbera port but the deal later collapsed after the later accused Addis Ababa of “failing to meet conditions to acquire the stakes.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here
Captcha verification failed!
CAPTCHA user score failed. Please contact us!

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

An Open Letter to Major Dawit W/Giorgis and Mr. Getachew Beyene

This letter is penned by concerned members of the...

Hunger kills more than 130 in a district in Tigray- Local Official

A senior official in Tigray’s Atsbi district said 138 people have died of starvation as the compounded effects of drought and a post-conflict humanitarian crisis continue to push millions deep into food insecurity across Northern Ethiopia.

Trouble in the Horn? Tensions continue to Brew between Ethiopia and Somalia

The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud travels to Eritrea this Monday as he continues to increase diplomatic pressures on Ethiopia after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Addis Ababa and the breakaway Republic of Somaliland. The president signed a law which he said would nullify the agreement while Ethiopia insists no party or country will be affected. Meanwhile a senior Somaliland cabinet minister has resigned voicing opposition to the MoU.

Ethiopia’s BRICS Membership Officially Begins

As most of the world starts a new year on Monday 1 January 2024 Ethiopia is set to achieve a diplomatic milestone by officially joining a group of emerging countries simply known -until now- as BRICS.