ADDIS ABABA: Africa’s landlocked country, Ethiopia has signed an initial pact with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland on Monday to use its Red Sea port of Berbera.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office on Monday said that the Horn of Africa state currently depends on neighboring Djibouti for most of its sea trade.
Abiy at the signing ceremony with Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa said from now onwards Ethiopia will use Berbera port of Somaliland.
Somaliland’s National Security Adviser Redwan Hussien said the MoU would pave the way to allowing Ethiopia to have commercial marine operations in the region by giving it access to a leased military base in the Red Sea.
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Without providing further details, he said, Somaliland would in return get a share of state-owned Ethiopian Airlines.
Somaliland has not gained widespread global recognition despite declaring autonomy from Somalia in 1991. Somalia says Somaliland is part of its territory.
Somalian state media last week reported that following mediation efforts led by Djibouti, Somalia and Somaliland had agreed to resume discussions aimed at resolving their disputes.
