Somalia and Ethiopia have reached an agreement to resolve their longstanding dispute over Ethiopia’s plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland. The two countries’ leaders have committed to finding commercial arrangements to ensure that landlocked Ethiopia has reliable, secure, and sustainable access to the sea.
This decision follows talks mediated by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, held on Wednesday. The agreement includes a joint effort to start technical negotiations by the end of February 2024, with the aim of concluding them within four months. Ethiopia seeks a port in Somaliland as part of a broader plan to enhance trade routes and maritime access, but Somalia opposes any such arrangements that could legitimize Somaliland’s de facto independence, which remains unrecognized internationally. The dispute dates back to Ethiopia’s plan to lease a port in Somaliland, which would provide the landlocked nation with crucial access to the sea. Somalia, rejecting any recognition of Somaliland’s independence, sees the deal as a potential step towards formalizing the region’s breakaway status. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but it has not gained international recognition, despite its relative peace and stability compared to the rest of Somalia. Ethiopia’s engagement with Somaliland has intensified tensions, as Somalia views it as a threat to its territorial integrity.
The port dispute has also drawn in regional powers. Somalia has strengthened ties with Egypt and Eritrea, both of which have longstanding disputes with Ethiopia, particularly over Ethiopia’s Nile River dam project. Meanwhile, Turkey plays a crucial role in the Horn of Africa, maintaining strong relations with both Ethiopia and Somalia. It provides military training to Somalia’s security forces and is involved in humanitarian and development projects while also gaining influence in the region’s strategic shipping routes. This agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia marks a significant step toward resolving the Somaliland port dispute. While the negotiations are still in their early stages, the cooperation between the two nations, facilitated by Turkey, holds promise for a peaceful resolution with far-reaching implications for the stability of the Horn of Africa.
