What to Know:
Ethiopia has struck a port deal with the Somalian breakaway state of Somaliland to gain Red Sea access, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office announced earlier today. While Somalia’s federal government has not officially responded, it is expected to fully reject the deal.
What is Somaliland:
Somaliland is a self-declared, de facto independent state that makes up the northern most territory of Somalia along the Gulf of Aden, which declared its independence following the overthrow of President Siad Barre by rebel forces in 1991. While Somaliland operates with its own democratically elected government, state institutions, and military forces, it has not gained international recognition as an independent state, but has been able to operate with autonomy in some capacity. Somaliland also maintains informal diplomatic relations with some countries, such as Ethiopia.
The Deal:
The deal, in short, allows for Ethiopia, a landlocked country, to have access to the Red Sea through the port of Berbera in a lease agreement with Somaliland. In turn, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as independent and establish diplomatic ties in due time, according to Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi.
In a statement, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office said that the Memorandum of Understanding “is intended to serve as a framework for the multisectoral partnership between the two sides.”
BREAKING: Ethiopia, Somaliland sign “historic” agreement that will pave the way for Ethiopia to have access to the Red Sea, @AbiyAhmedAli’s office announced. The Memorundum of Understanding signed by @AbiyAhmedAli and @bihi also strengthens the security, economic and political… pic.twitter.com/wmxcSjJHy3
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) January 1, 2024
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation, Somalia, are sacrosanct. And it’s the duty of our government, as well as citizens, to safeguard both our sovereignty & territorial integrity.
I believe our government, executive & legislative branches, will respond… pic.twitter.com/WzS6lpZrk5— Mursal M Khaliif (@MPMursalKhaliif) January 1, 2024
Some Somali officials have started to react to the deal, with MP and Defense Committee member Mursal Khaliif warning that “our government, executive & legislative branches, will respond appropriately to news of Ethiopia infringing on our territorial integrity.”
Likewise, Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Abdirizak Mohamed called Somalia’s sovereignty and integrity “uncompromisable,” adding that Ethiopia has no carte blanche, or freedom do do whatever one desires, to “violate our territorial integrity.”
?? is indivisible! It’s sovereignty & territorial integrity is uncompromisable. ??knows well that it can’t sign a military pact/MOU to lease a port with regional head of state- that mandate is the prerogative of the FGS. ??has no carte Blanche to violate our territorial integrity https://t.co/UHqZ8fMuv3
— Abdirizak Mohamed MP (@AbdirizakOm) January 1, 2024
Somalia is expected to fully reject the deal, but a response remains unknown. Mogadishu still considers Somaliland as part of greater Somalia, so military action could be taken to seize the port. Likewise, we might also see political and/ or economic sanctions put on Ethiopia.
