Somaliland’s government remains committed to a controversial agreement with Ethiopia to lease part of its coastline for a naval base despite mounting opposition from Somalia and increasing international criticism.
Speaking to a crowd of hundreds in Tog-Wajaale, President Muse Bihi Abdi vowed the deal would move forward, dismissing attempts to block the agreement.
“The MoU will be implemented. That is a certainty. To those trying to derail it, let them do as they please.”In dismissing Somalia’s fierce opposition, Bihi added that Somaliland’s interests remain his top priority, and the region will not be a battleground for Egyptian interests. “To those in Mogadishu who have brought in Egyptian troops, I say this: you cannot claim to unite Somalis while allying with Egypt to undermine Somaliland.”
He also pointed to opposition from Somalis of Kenyan and Ethiopian descent, accusing them of undermining the Somaliland-Ethiopia agreement. He suggested that these individuals should focus on the affairs of their respective countries.
The contentious agreement, signed on January 1, 2024, grants Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer stretch of Somaliland’s coast along the Gulf of Aden. In return, Somaliland expects Ethiopia to recognize its independence, a key component of Somaliland’s ongoing campaign for international recognition since declaring itself independent from Somalia in 1991.
For Ethiopia, a landlocked nation with a population exceeding 120 million, access to the sea is a strategic goal. Since Eritrea’s secession in 1993, Ethiopia has relied heavily on Djibouti for its maritime trade. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has long sought to diversify Ethiopia’s access to ports, describing it as paramount for future growth.
Under the MoU, Ethiopia plans to establish a naval base and port in Somaliland, giving the country greater control over trade routes and reducing dependence on Djibouti’s port facilities. Ethiopian officials have consistently defended the agreement, stating that it aligns with Ethiopia’s long-term interests.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi has been unwavering in his defence of the agreement in the face of intense regional and international opposition framing it as crucial for Somaliland’s quest for independence and regional security. Bihi repeatedly stated that Ethiopia’s presence would secure navigation in the Gulf of Aden, a strategic waterway that is plagued by instability.
“The MoU will be implemented without question,” Bihi said in a speech earlier this year. “This agreement is a fundamental step towards Somaliland’s independence and will help protect key shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden.”
Bihi called the MoU a historic step in Somaliland’s journey toward statehood and highlighted the potential economic benefits, mainly through foreign investment in Berbera port, which is already undergoing significant expansion with funding from the UAE’s DP World.
Somalia has vehemently opposes the MoU, calling it an infringement on its sovereignty. Mogadishu maintains that Somaliland is part of Somalia and that the central government must approve any agreements involving Somaliland.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has made blocking the MoU a national unity . In January, Somalia recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia and labelled the agreement “illegal.” Protests erupted in Mogadishu, with demonstrators denouncing the deal as violating Somalia’s territorial integrity. Somalia has since called for international bodies, including the African Union and the United Nations, to intervene.
The deal has also drawn concern from regional powers, including Egypt , which is locked in a long-standing dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River. Egypt views the MoU as a threat to its strategic interests in the region and has increased its military presence in Somalia. While Ethiopia is “alarmed” the prospect of having Egyptian troops next door.
In August 2024, Egypt delivered military equipment and troops to Somalia under a defence pact signed earlier in the year. This development has heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, with Ethiopia warning that Egypt’s involvement could further destabilize the Horn of Africa.
Somaliland’s government has dismissed Egypt’s opposition. In a statement, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Egypt’s criticisms “inaccurate and misleading.”
