Thursday September 5, 2024
FILE – Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has recently urged Ethiopia to embrace a Djiboutian port proposal aimed at easing tensions with Somalia, highlighting the importance of regional stability.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Djibouti's Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, has called on Ethiopia to embrace a proposal to relieve tensions with Somalia. Speaking at the China-Africa Summit, Youssouf expressed optimism that Ethiopia would respond positively to the initiative, which involves offering Ethiopia exclusive access to a Djiboutian port.
"We are navigating a storm," Youssouf said. "Our efforts are focused on helping countries like Sudan while working to reduce tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia."
The diplomatic strain began when Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region of Somalia, earlier this year. The deal, which grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland's coastline in exchange for recognition, was met with strong opposition from Somalia, which sees Somaliland as part of its territory. Somalia has since expelled Ethiopia's ambassador and threatened to remove Ethiopian troops stationed in the country.
Last week, Djibouti proposed an alternative solution. Youssouf explained that his country is offering Ethiopia 100% control of the Tadjoura port, located just 100 kilometres from the Ethiopian border. "We are offering Ethiopia full management of a brand-new port," Youssouf said, emphasizing that Djibouti's goal is to promote stability in the region. "This corridor will help reduce transportation costs for Ethiopia and could ease the tensions caused by the Somaliland deal."
Somalia has been clear that while it is open to granting Ethiopia commercial sea access, it rejects any military presence or naval base as part of the deal. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stressed that Somalia's sovereignty must be respected in any agreements involving its coastline.
Somaliland, meanwhile, views the MoU with Ethiopia as a potential breakthrough in its long-standing quest for international recognition. However, the deal has drawn opposition from both Somalia and Djibouti, which see it as destabilizing for the region.
In response to the Ethiopia-Somaliland deal, Egypt has strengthened its military ties with Somalia, providing weapons and training to Somali forces. This move has raised concerns across the region, with fears that the conflict could escalate. Egypt is already at odds with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and the new military partnership between Egypt and Somalia has further complicated relations.
Djibouti, which hosts several foreign military bases and controls key shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, has been working to mediate between Ethiopia and Somalia, alongside other regional powers like Turkey. Despite two rounds of negotiations, no resolution has been reached, and tensions remain high.