2024 Ethiopia–Somaliland memorandum of understanding
Agreement that allows Ethiopia to access the Red Sea port / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 1 January 2024, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. Reportedly, this MoU stated that Somaliland would lease 19 kilometres (12 mi) of its Red Sea coastline to Ethiopia around the port city of Berbera. This agreement follows recent tensions surrounding Prime Minister Ahmed's stated desire for Ethiopia to have access to the Red Sea. In return, the MoU reportedly includes a provision stating Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent state in the future, which would make it the first UN member state to do so.
Signed | 1 January 2024 |
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Signatories | Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia) Muse Bihi Abdi (Somaliland) |
Parties | Ethiopia Somaliland |
The deal has received condemnation and opposition from Somalia and Egypt, with Somalia recalling its ambassador to Ethiopia in protest.