Somaliland and Ethiopia Sign Agreement for Access to The Sea

In a significant development, landlocked Ethiopia has taken strides to secure sea access by signing an initial agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, to utilise the Red Sea port of Berbera. This strategic move aims to diversify Ethiopia’s maritime trade beyond its reliance on Djibouti.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU), inked by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, outlines plans for Ethiopia to secure a 20-kilometer stretch of the Somaliland coastline for a leased military base. This step aims to provide Ethiopia with commercial marine operations and enhance its geopolitical position in the region.

In an unprecedented move, President Abdi disclosed that the agreement includes provisions for Ethiopia to recognise Somaliland as an independent nation in the foreseeable future, solidifying their security, economic, and political partnership.

However, Somaliland’s declaration of autonomy from Somalia in 1991 has not garnered international recognition, with Somalia asserting Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory. Reactions from Somalia were swift, emphasising the indivisibility of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The agreement signals a pivotal diplomatic milestone for Ethiopia, which lost its access to the sea following Eritrea’s secession in 1993. With over 120 million people, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country globally, heavily reliant on Djibouti’s port for imports and exports.

This accord echoes previous attempts in 2018 for Ethiopia to secure a stake in Berbera’s port, which faltered due to unmet conditions. The current MoU holds the promise of transformative implications for Ethiopia’s maritime trade and geopolitical influence in the region.

The development is framed as a strategic achievement by Addis Ababa, indicating the agreement’s potential to shape Ethiopia’s future access to the sea. While an MoU is not legally binding, it represents a significant step toward potentially securing Ethiopia’s sea access, fulfilling a longstanding aspiration for the country.

The agreement’s details have not been fully disclosed, but Ethiopian authorities view this move as a critical diplomatic success, paving the way for future negotiations and treaties that could influence Ethiopia’s maritime trajectory.