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.”