Aweke Getahun, Senior News Editor at Ethiopian News Agency
Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous state in the Horn of Africa, recently inked a port agreement with Ethiopia, a landlocked nation that has long pushed for access to the sea. The agreement is regarded as an important achievement for Somaliland, which has had difficulty luring in outside capital and international recognition. Ethiopia now has much-needed access to the sea and the chance to grow its commercial and economic connections throughout the region, thanks to the agreement. Others are excited by the two parties’ recent action, which might have a significant effect on the political and economic climate of the area. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Muse Bihi Abdi of the breakaway nation of Somaliland inked the first agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The basis of the memorandum of agreement was the leasing of 20 kilometers (12 miles) of Somaliland’s coastline to Ethiopia, a landlocked country. In return, Somaliland would be granted official status as a sovereign state and shares in Ethiopian Airlines, the main airline of its neighbor. The agreement may also have an impact on the regional power structure. Ethiopia is a regional superpower, and other nations in the Horn of Africa may view its growing influence as an imminent threat, which might spark more rivalry and perhaps hostilities.
Somaliland’s quest for statehood
The port agreement with Ethiopia has been warmly received by the Somaliland administration, which has hailed it as “historic” and sees it as a significant chance to advance political cooperation between Ethiopia and Somaliland, raise living standards, and strengthen the region’s economy. The leadership of Somaliland has also conveyed optimism that the agreement will ultimately result in the worldwide acknowledgement of Somaliland’s independence. Both parties characterize the development as a significant diplomatic move. Considering itself a statement of purpose, the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland has the potential to become a legally binding agreement. The deal is considered to be a component of Somaliland’s three-decade-long effort to gain acceptance of its claim to independence. Ethiopia will be the first country to “extend international recognition for our country, although this has not been confirmed by Addis Ababa,” according to Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, in exchange for sea access. Through the agreement, Ethiopia will have access to a dependable, long-term naval base and commercial marine services in the Gulf of Aden. However, Somalia considers Somaliland to be a part of its territory, and it has responded strongly to the MoU.
Despite a lack of recognition, Somaliland has managed to set up a rather stable and efficient government with its own constitution, judicial system, and security forces. However, the historic deal has shocked the area and infuriated Somalia, which sees it as an aggressive infringement on its sovereignty. It is expected that Ethiopia, a significant regional actor, has given Somaliland’s independence significant support with the port agreement. This could persuade other nations in the area to acknowledge Somaliland’s independence or, at the very least, interact with it as a distinct entity. The agreement may be viewed as a provocation by the Somali government and other regional actors, according to some analysts, who claim that this might lead to more instability in the area. Additionally, terrorist groups like al-Shabaab that operate in the area may strike the port and its related infrastructure. There is a lengthy shoreline on the Gulf of Aden in Somaliland, a 4.5 million-person former British protectorate. It has its own currency, passports, and government, but it is impoverished and isolated since its bid for statehood has not been accepted globally.
Ethiopia’s aspiration for port access
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation in the Horn of Africa, has long desired to improve its maritime connections. The nation has historical links to the region and has a lengthy border with Somaliland. However, the Somali government, which considers Somaliland’s claim to independence to be fraudulent, has resisted its past attempts to create a port in Somaliland. Following Somalia’s complaints, Ethiopia stated after signing the port agreement that its relationship with Somaliland had not violated any laws. Addis Ababa defended the pact, claiming that other nations have made deals with Somaliland in the past and that it “will affect no party,” despite the government in Mogadishu protesting the accord and pleading with the international community to support it. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has previously described sea access as an existential issue for his country. In Ethiopia, for much of 2023, the government stressed the economic need for a seaport and even subtly hinted at possibly invading Eritrea for access to the Red Sea. “This has now been agreed upon with our Somaliland brothers, and a MoU [memorandum of understanding] has been signed,” Pm. Abiy said at the signing ceremony with Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The Prime Minister’s office described the deal as “historic,” adding that it “shall pave the way to realise the aspiration of Ethiopia to secure access to the sea and diversify its access to seaports, which strengthens their security, economic, and political partnership.
The port agreement has been well received by the Ethiopian government, which sees it as an important milestone. It is anticipated that the port’s earnings would strengthen Somaliland’s economy and supply much-needed capital for infrastructural improvements. Additionally, thousands of jobs for Ethiopian and Somaliland residents are anticipated as a result of the agreement. In an effort to develop the port and make it a profitable commercial gateway for its people, Ethiopia purchased shares in Berbera Port in 2017 as part of an agreement with the Emirati logistics management company DP World. But as the Somaliland authorities allegedly stated at the time, “Ethiopia failed to meet the conditions needed to acquire the stake before the deadline,” hence this plan fell through in 2022. Ethiopia was unable to gain access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in the early 1990s. With more than 120 million people, it is the most populous landlocked country in the world. Ethiopia has been utilizing the port in nearby Djibouti for the great majority of its imports and exports up until this point, but since the mid-2000s, Ethiopia has been looking at other options in Sudan, Somaliland, and Kenya due to the billions of dollars in port fees that Djibouti is allegedly charging Ethiopia yearly. Following the Eritrean War of Independence, which lasted from 1961 to 1991, Ethiopia lost its ports on the Red Sea early in the 1990s. Since that time, Ethiopia and Eritrea have separated to become their own independent countries. Ethiopia lost direct access to the Red Sea and important ports as a result of the split.
Somalia’s strong response to the port deal: Calls for an urgent IGAD meeting
The Somali government is adamantly against the port agreement, claiming it compromises both Somalia’s sovereignty and the status of Somaliland as recognized by the international community. It has demanded that the world community denounce the agreement. After calling an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the agreement, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared, “As a government, we have condemned and rejected the illegal infringement of Ethiopia on our national sovereignty and territorial integrity” in a statement on X. “Nobody can sign away an inch of Somalia, nor will they.” Viewing the port agreement as a breach of Somali authority and a danger to regional stability, the Somali government has been outspoken in its criticism of it. A threat to severe diplomatic ties has been made by the Somali government with Ethiopia, which has warned of potential military action against both Ethiopia and Somaliland, It said it was recalling its ambassador to Ethiopia. The government said the agreement was “null and void” and a violation of its sovereignty.
In a press release, it stated that it “considers this action an aggression and… is an impediment to the good neighborliness, peace, and stability of the region, which is already struggling with many challenges.” Additionally, Somalia declared its desire for intervention on the matter from regional and global bodies such as the UN Security Council, IGAD, and the African Union. The sensitivity of the matter and the need to avoid inciting tensions in the area are perhaps the reasons why the international community has been mostly mute on the port agreement thus far. According to some observers, in order to settle the conflict between Somaliland and the Somali government, the international community would eventually need to become involved. Ismail Omar Guelleh, the chair of the IGAD and president of Djibouti, has invited the member nations of the East African members to an extraordinary summit in Uganda next week to discuss the recent dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia.
In an effort to find a peaceful solution, the African Union and other international partners were also invited to address the Ethiopia-Somalia conflict. Following an agreement on sea access, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the executive secretary of IGAD, also urged Somalia and Ethiopia to work together. The IGAD acknowledged the possible consequences for regional stability and voiced “deep concern regarding recent developments.” He also stated that he is closely following the situation. According to IGAD, it is unwavering in its dedication to advancing regional integration, collaboration, peace, and stability. However, not every response from the Somali administration has been unfavorable. Politicians and academics have contended that the agreement would be advantageous for Somalia, as it might compel the country’s administration to make improvements to its port facilities and financial allocations for economic change.
To sum up, the port agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland is a noteworthy milestone in the Horn of Africa that might have regional effects in terms of politics, economy, and security. The agreement has sparked worries about its possible effects on regional stability and the ongoing tensions between Somaliland and the Somali government, even if it is anticipated to have a major positive impact on Ethiopia and Somaliland. It is unclear how the arrangement will be received by the international community in light of the ongoing developments and if more stability or tension will result in the area in the end. The agreement is an important step towards ensuring Ethiopia’s access to the sea, which has long been a top strategic goal for the nation. The port agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland is a noteworthy advancement for the area, with possible ramifications for the economy, politics, and security. The agreement has raised worries about its possible effects on Somali sovereignty and regional stability, even if it is anticipated to have significant positive effects for both Somaliland and Ethiopia. The Horn of Africa is becoming a complicated area with shifting political and economic forces, and navigating these changes will provide hurdles, as seen by the Somali government’s reactions to the arrangement. Analysts thus say that in order to settle the diplomatic issue between Somaliland and the Somali government as well as Ethiopia, the international community may eventually need to step in.
