Ethiopia and Somalia agree to resolve Somaliland port dispute

Following discussions held in Turkey, Ethiopia and Somalia have reached an agreement to conclude their intense disagreement concerning Addis Ababa’s proposed port construction in the self-declared republic of Somaliland. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed approval for the “historic agreement,” stating that it would ultimately guarantee landlocked Ethiopia’s maritime access. During the press conference, President Erdogan was seen holding hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, both of whom committed to upholding each other’s “sovereignty.” The two neighboring nations have been in conflict since January, when Ethiopia entered into a maritime agreement with Somaliland, a region Somalia regards as integral to its territory. This development sparked concerns of a broader regional conflict, given Egypt’s support for Somalia, primarily stemming from its dissatisfaction with Ethiopia’s construction of a dam on the River Nile. In recent years, Turkey has emerged as a significant geopolitical actor in the Horn of Africa, cultivating strong economic connections with Addis Ababa and establishing security arrangements with Mogadishu. President Erdogan characterized the accord, which was announced on Wednesday night in Ankara, the Turkish capital, as “the first step towards a new beginning.” He stated, “I congratulate both my brothers for reaching to this historic reconciliation with devotion and thank them for their constructive attitude.” President Mohamud affirmed that his nation was “ready to work with the Ethiopian leadership and the Ethiopian people.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abiy asserted that Ethiopia’s endeavors to obtain secure and dependable sea access posed no threat to Somalia, and that the two countries had “addressed the misunderstandings that have occurred over the past year.” The disagreement originated on New Year’s Day, when Prime Minister Abiy entered into a contentious agreement with Somaliland to lease a 20km (12-mile) portion of its coastline for a duration of 50 years, intended for the establishment of a naval base. In return, Ethiopia, recognized as the world’s most populous landlocked country, was reportedly expected to acknowledge Somaliland as an independent state, although Addis Ababa never explicitly verified this. Somaliland, having separated from Somalia over three decades ago, has consistently sought international recognition; however, Mogadishu characterized the action as an act of “aggression.” As per the joint declaration issued in Ankara, the two neighboring Horn of Africa nations are scheduled to meet again in February for “technical talks.” During the intervening period, they will endeavor to establish “mutually beneficial commercial arrangements” to guarantee Ethiopia’s access to the sea “under Somalia’s sovereignty.” It remains uncertain whether Ethiopia has abandoned the agreement it concluded with Somaliland, a condition Somalia had insisted upon during previous mediation attempts. The previous month, Somaliland elected a new president, former opposition leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who pledged to “review” the maritime agreement. He did not refer to it during his inauguration speech on Thursday morning. Somaliland occupies a strategically significant global position, considered a crucial entry point to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Further reporting was contributed by Bidhaan Dahir in Hargeisa. For additional news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Connect with us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.