East Africa: Somalia, Somaliland and the Explosive Port Deal

Addis Standard
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi agreed on Ethiopia accessing the Red Sea via their port, sparking criticism for the move from Somalia's government.
7 February 2024
International Crisis Group
By Alan Boswell and Omar Mahmood

This week on The Horn, Alan speaks with Omar Mahmood, Crisis Group's Senior Analyst for Eastern Africa, about the implications for Somalia of a possible port deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland and the risks of an escalation in regional tensions.

In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Omar Mahmood, Crisis Group's Senior Analyst for Eastern Africa, to discuss the fallout of the Ethiopia-Somaliland Memorandum of Understanding for Somalia and the region. They talk about Hargeisa's motivations for the port deal with Addis Ababa and Mogadishu's response. They look at what deteriorating relations between Ethiopia and Somalia could mean for the offensive against Al Shabaab as well as regional stability generally. They examine the flurry of diplomacy by Somalia aimed at rallying opposition to the deal. They also discuss whether Ethiopia could make a pitch for greater sea access that would benefit both Somalia and Somaliland.

For more in-depth analysis of the topics discussed in this episode, check out our Horn of Africa regional page.

Alan Boswell, Project Director, Horn of Africa

Omar Mahmood, Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa

Read the original on the Crisis Group website.

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