Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – Ethiopia and Somalia are on the path to forming a new partnership after both countries agreed to resolve the ongoing dispute over the Somaliland port. Last week, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Mogadishu and held discussions with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The main focus of the meeting was the security of the Horn of Africa and the initiation of technical negotiations regarding Ethiopia’s access to a port, as agreed upon in Ankara last December.
With Turkey serving as a mediator, Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to establish a “business model beneficial to both parties,” ensuring that Ethiopia gains access to the sea while respecting Somalia’s sovereignty. In an interview with local media last week, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ali Mohamed Omar confirmed that talks are ongoing and expressed hope that a final agreement could be reached by June.
“The agreement will determine the type of port, the specific area along the Indian Ocean, and the overall costs involved,” the minister stated.
This agreement marks a significant step toward addressing Ethiopia’s long-standing need for direct port access. In a previous deal, Ethiopia had planned to lease a 12-mile section of Berbera beach from the Somaliland administration without seeking approval from Mogadishu, which led to tensions in the region.
Ethiopia became a landlocked country in 1993 after Eritrea gained independence, ending a 13-year war between the two nations. Currently, Ethiopia relies on Djibouti’s ports, connected by a 752 km road and railway to Addis Ababa.
However, as one of the most economically advanced countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia is pushing to develop its own port along the Indian Ocean. This port could also serve as a base for the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Company (ESLSE), one of Africa’s largest shipping companies.
At present, ESLSE operates a fleet of ten trucks but plans to add six more to meet growing export and import demands. According to the 2023/2024 performance report, ESLSE handles approximately 45 percent of Ethiopia’s dry cargo at Djibouti ports.