Somalia Ports Inaccessible to Ethiopia, Says Minister Kahin
The president of Somalia, Mohamud, said on Monday that although his administration does not oppose Ethiopia’s pursuit of the Red Sea access, it does disagree to the suggested path that entails signing an MoU with Somaliland.
Speaking in Mogadishu during the East African Community (EAC) summit, he highlighted Somalia’s dedication to regional cooperation while denouncing Ethiopia’s aspirations about what he referred to as Somali waters.
Mohamud emphasized Ethiopia’s existing access to the Djibouti Sea and cautioned against Ethiopia’s endeavors to compromise regional peace by gaining entry to the Red Sea through Somaliland.
He restated Somalia’s commitment to promoting cordial neighborly connections and equitable opportunities among EAC member nations.
The proposal from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Ethiopia has been rejected by Somaliland officials, who point out that the idea is unrealistic because Somalia lacks ports that are accessible and because Somaliland is an independent nation.
The only port under Somalia’s jurisdiction, Mogadishu, is 1,600 kilometers from Ethiopia, making it unsuitable for a workable deal, as noted by Somaliland’s Interior Minister Mohamed Kahin Ahmed. He pointed out that President Mohamud’s plan is impractical because to the distance, the existence of Al Shabaab, which controls a large portion of the territory between Mogadishu and Ethiopia, and insufficient trade channels.
The administration in Somaliland has stated openly that the agreement between it and Ethiopia is almost complete, with a British law firm handling the finalization of the agreement. Minister Kahin stressed that Ethiopia and Somaliland share an understanding that goes beyond port access to include strategic position and reach.