Former Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi has said that Ethiopia backed away from implementing a controversial agreement granting it access to the Red Sea due to mounting international pressure, particularly from the African Union, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Bihi said Ethiopia was effectively “overpowered” by the scale of the diplomatic backlash that followed the signing of the memorandum of understanding in January 2024. The deal, signed between Bihi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, would have provided Ethiopia with a sea outlet and a naval base along the Red Sea in exchange for formal recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
According to Bihi, Addis Ababa came under heavy pressure from regional and international stakeholders, including threats that the African Union headquarters could be relocated from the Ethiopian capital should the government proceed with the agreement.
The former leader said the severity of the reaction was unexpected by both parties and described the developments that followed as unprecedented. While Somaliland remained prepared to implement the terms of the deal, Bihi said Ethiopia ultimately failed to move forward with the implementation phase, choosing instead to bow to international pressure.
The memorandum had drawn opposition from Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its sovereign territory, as well as from many regional and international actors who warned the agreement risked destabilising the Horn of Africa.
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