Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'
Qatari PM: The only path to peace begins through negotiations and a ceasefire

Ethiopia, Somaliland reach ‘historic’ agreement over access to ports

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 2 Jan 2024 09:40
4 Min Read

Naval and commercial access to Somaliland's coast was granted to Ethiopia in exchange for recognizing the breakaway region's independence.

  • x
  • Ethiopia, Somaliland reach ‘historic’ agreement over access to ports
    Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed (L) and Somaliland's President, Muse Bihi (R), discuss the port-access deal on January 2, 2023. (Social Media/X)

Ethiopia and Somaliland have signed a deal that grants Ethiopia access to naval and commercial ports along Somaliland's coast, in exchange for recognition of the breakaway republic's independence. 

Addressing the media at a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, following his meeting with the country's prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, President Muse Bihi of Somaliland stated, "We are pleased to announce, and want to express gratitude to the prime minister and Ethiopia, according to our agreement written here, that we will give 20km of sea, and they will recognize us."

Somaliland's Information Minister, Ali Hasan Mohamed,  believes the deal is a "game-changer", reiterating his government's view that the deal involved providing Ethiopia with 20km (12 miles) of sea access in exchange for diplomatic recognition.

On another note, the Somali government was steadfast in its position that Somaliland is an integral part of the country and declared its intention to hold an emergency meeting of its cabinet in response to the memorandum of understanding, as reported by the state news agency Sonna.

VIDEO: #Ethiopia will be the first country to recognise #Somaliland as an independent nation and we will be 1st state to realise Addis Ababa its dreams for sea access, said Muse Bihi. The MoU paves the way to allowing Ethiopia to have commercial marine operations in the region by… pic.twitter.com/MzUD4FF4VG

— GAROWE ONLINE (@GaroweOnline) January 1, 2024

Abiy's office welcomed the agreement in a statement on X, highlighting a commitment to "advance mutual interests through cooperation based on reciprocity." Notably, the statement did not explicitly mention the recognition of Somaliland. It added: “The memorandum of understanding shall pave the way to realize the aspiration to secure access to the sea and diversify its access to seaports,” ushering in a “new chapter of cooperation” and “regional integration in the Horn”.

According to Redwan Hussein, Abiy Ahmed's advisor, the details of the memorandum would be formalized in a follow-up meeting next month.

A step ahead in the right direction for the this and generations to come. FDRE Signed MOU with Somaliland for Partnership and cooperation which paves the way for accessing a leased Military base on Red sea.

— Redwan Hussien (@RedwanHussien) January 1, 2024

Related News

Somali, AU forces kill 100+ al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle op.

BCG consultants modelled relocating Gazans to Somalia

Tensions again 

The meeting between Ethiopia and Somaliland came days after Somalia and Somaliland announced a breakthrough in talks in Djibouti, committing to further dialogue between their respective capitals.

Somalia's government reached a comprehensive security cooperation agreement with the breakaway Somaliland region following years of stalled tensions, as reported by Somalian media on Saturday.

The leaders of Somalia and Somaliland, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Muse Bihi Abdi respectively, had earlier convened a meeting hosted by Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh to restart discussions regarding the political status of the autonomous region situated in northern Somalia.

Read more: Black Hawk Down: America's history in reviving wars in Somalia

During these talks, both parties committed to an 8-point agreement, which includes combating organized crime and developing a negotiation roadmap within a 30-day timeframe, as outlined by the Garowe Online news website.

Abdikarim Hussein Guled, Somalia's special envoy to Somaliland, criticized the new agreement with Ethiopia, stating that it represented Ethiopia's "blatant disregard for international norms" and undermined the progress made between Hargeisa and Mogadishu.

Former Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo expressed concerns, posting on X: "The agreement signed by Ethiopia with Somaliland today is a serious concern for Somalia and the whole of Africa."

Here is what you need to know 

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in the early 1990s amid Somalia's prolonged civil war. Over three decades later, Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, has actively sought international recognition within the borders of the former British protectorate. Formal recognition by Ethiopia could offer Somaliland its most significant opportunity yet to address its longstanding international isolation.

Ethiopia lost access to its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s when Eritrean forces, controlling Ethiopia's northern coastal region, declared independence from the country. Ethiopia, heavily dependent on Djibouti for international trade, sought to diversify its options to mitigate vulnerability, expressing interest in acquiring access to ports along East Africa's seaboard since October. On that note, Ethiopia's assertion of rights and signaling its interest in Red Sea ports has raised concerns among its neighbors.

In a televised address, Abiy stated that Ethiopia should have a say in using the Red Sea ports of its coastal neighbors, drawing parallels to countries downstream along the Nile River negotiating the use of the river, where Ethiopia has built a dam to generate power.

  • Somalia
  • Addis Ababa
  • Somaliland
  • Ethiopia
  • Muse Bihi
  • Abiy Ahmed

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Damage sustained after a Yemeni drone exploded in Ramon Airport, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Social Media)

Yemeni drone successfully hits Ramon Airport in southern Palestine

  • Politics
  • 7 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli military strike on a building in Gaza City, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Yousef Al Zanoun)
Politics

Israeli bombs kill 45 in Gaza as schools, homes targeted

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization
Palestine

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Hamas: Over one million in Gaza face ethnic cleansing
Palestine

Over one million in Gaza face ethnic cleansing: Palestinian Resistance

Head of the National Security Committee in Iran’s Parliament, MP Ebrahim Azizi. (Tasnim News Agency)
Politics

Iran parliament security chief: NPT exit on table if snapback invoked

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS