Somalia Asserts Sovereignty Amid Ethiopia-Somaliland Port Deal

Somalia is steadfast in its commitment to defend national sovereignty through legal means following Ethiopia’s contentious pact with the breakaway region of Somaliland. The move prompted Somalia to recall its ambassador to Ethiopia and vehemently oppose the agreement, labeling it a clear violation of its sovereignty and calling for international support.

The memorandum of understanding inked by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland’s leader, Muse Bihi Abdi, granting access to Berbera’s Red Sea port and outlining the establishment of a military base, drew strong condemnation from the Somali government. The Somali cabinet reaffirmed Somaliland’s integral role within Somalia under its constitution and rebuffed the agreement as groundless and intolerable, leading to the ambassador’s recall for consultations.

Prime Minister Barre delivered a unifying address, emphasizing the nation’s determination to safeguard its land and sovereignty within legal frameworks, garnering widespread attention domestically and internationally.

While Ethiopia is yet to respond to Somalia’s reaction, the deal underscores Ethiopia’s pursuit of Red Sea access, crucial for its trade, especially after Eritrea’s independence in 1993. The Berbera port, strategically positioned at the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, offers Ethiopia an economic gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This access encompasses a leased military base on the Red Sea, although the implementation timeline remains uncertain.

Notably, in 2018, Ethiopia procured a 19% stake in the Berbera port, majority-owned by Dubai-based DP World, with Somaliland retaining 30% ownership. Despite recent talks between Somalia and Somaliland, mediated by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and endorsed by IGAD and the British embassy, Somaliland’s statehood aspirations remain unacknowledged internationally, leaving the region economically marginalized and politically unsettled.