The Somaliland administration has once again demonstrated its willingness to allow Ethiopia to benefit from Berbera Port and the maritime corridor along Somaliland’s coast. This comes as a diplomatic dispute remains ongoing over Ethiopia’s ambition to secure access to the sea.
Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdirahman Dahir Adan Bakaal, said in an interview with Sky News Arabia that Ethiopia is a brotherly nation and a close friend of Somaliland. He indicated that his administration is ready to cooperate with Ethiopia on ports, trade, and maritime access.
The statement highlights the importance Somaliland places on its relationship with Ethiopia, a landlocked country that has increasingly expressed its need for access to the sea to support international trade and the movement of goods.
Berbera Port is one of Somaliland’s most important economic infrastructure assets.
The administration aims to make the port a major hub connecting trade across the Horn of Africa, particularly with Ethiopia, which has a large market and ongoing demand for imports and exports.
Ethiopia has long sought opportunities to expand its access to international trade routes. Although a significant portion of its maritime trade passes through ports in Djibouti, using other ports in the region could provide additional opportunities for transportation, commerce, and the movement of goods.
For its part, Somaliland views trade relations with Ethiopia as an opportunity to boost Berbera’s economy, increase cargo traffic, and strengthen the port’s role in regional commerce.
The minister’s remarks also indicate that Somaliland wants its relationship with Ethiopia to extend beyond political affairs and develop into broader economic cooperation involving ports, transportation, investment, and cross-border trade.
Relations between the two sides have attracted considerable attention since January 1, 2024, when Ethiopia and Somaliland signed a controversial memorandum of understanding.
