Ethiopia - Somaliland MOU

Ethiopia and Somaliland sign deal to boost sea access and regional integration

Ethiopia, a landlocked country with more than 100 million people, has taken a major step towards gaining access to the sea by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared republic that seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago.

The MoU, signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa on 1 January 2024, grants Ethiopia naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland’s coast, especially the strategic port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. In exchange, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland’s independence, a significant move given Somaliland’s three-decade quest for international recognition.

The deal, which was described as “historic” by both leaders, is expected to boost trade, security, and regional integration in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia, which lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in the early 1990s, has been relying on the port of Djibouti for most of its imports and exports. The agreement with Somaliland will diversify Ethiopia’s access to sea ports and reduce its dependence on a single route.

The deal also includes a provision for Ethiopia to access a “leased military base” on the Red Sea, according to Ethiopia’s national security adviser, Redwan Hussien. This could enhance Ethiopia’s maritime security and counter the influence of rival powers in the region, such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

The agreement, however, has stirred tensions with Somalia, which considers Somaliland as part of its territory and has not recognized its independence. Somalia’s government announced that it would convene an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the issue, according to state news agency Sonna. Somalia’s former president, Mohamed Farmaajo, expressed his concern on X, formerly Twitter, saying that the deal was a “serious concern for Somalia and the whole of Africa”.

The deal also came days after Somalia and Somaliland announced a breakthrough in talks in Djibouti, committing to further dialogue between their respective capitals. Some analysts have suggested that the deal could either undermine or accelerate the reconciliation process between Somalia and Somaliland, depending on how the parties react.

Sources: BBC, The Guardian, AP News, Addis Standard, Hiiraan Online

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