Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the President of Somaliland, Musa Bihi Abdi, signed a historic memorandum of understanding in Addis Ababa on Monday, paving the way for maritime access for Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian Prime Minister's Office, "Ethiopia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the separatist region of Somaliland to use the Port of Berbera on the Red Sea." Abiy Ahmed stated during the signing ceremony in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, "This has now been agreed upon with our brothers in Somaliland."
Ridwan Hussien, National Security Advisor to Abiy Ahmed, indicated that "the memorandum of understanding paves the way for Ethiopia to engage in maritime trade in the region by granting access to a leased military base on the Red Sea." He added that "Somaliland will receive in return a stake in the state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, without providing further details." Somaliland has not gained widespread international recognition despite declaring autonomy from Somalia in 1991.
