On The Foreign Scene
In a historic move, landlocked Ethiopia has taken a significant step towards accessing the sea by signing an agreement with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in Addis Ababa, involves Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi.
As part of the deal, Somaliland plans to lease a 20-km stretch of its coastline to Ethiopia for the establishment of a marine force base. With a population exceeding 120 million, Ethiopia is the world’s most populous landlocked country.
The agreement enhances security, economic, and political collaboration between Ethiopia and Somaliland, with a statement suggesting Ethiopia’s future recognition of Somaliland as an independent country.
Despite seceding from Somalia over 30 years ago, Somaliland lacks recognition from the African Union or the United Nations as an independent state. Somalia maintains its claim over Somaliland, leading to swift reactions from officials emphasizing Somalia’s indivisibility, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
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