Egypt opposes the port deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi has expressed his support for Somalia in its ongoing dispute with Ethiopia.

The tensions between the two countries have escalated since Ethiopia struck a deal with breakaway Somaliland to gain access to the Red Sea and establish a naval base.

During a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, President Sisi suggested that Ethiopia should utilize ports in Somalia and Djibouti for its maritime trade instead of trying to control another nation’s territory.

He emphasized that Egypt will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or encroach upon its land, and that Egypt stands with its brothers when they ask for support.

The agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which allows Ethiopia to rent coastland around the port of Berbera for 50 years, has been seen as a victory by the Ethiopian government in its pursuit of accessing major trade routes to boost its economy. However, Somalia has condemned the agreement as an act of aggression and a violation of its territorial integrity.

Mogadishu has rejected calls for mediation by the African Union, insisting that a resolution can only be achieved if Ethiopia cancels the “illegal” pact with Somaliland.

The Somali government’s request for international assistance in regards to the maritime agreement led to the Arab League, consisting of 22 nations, denouncing the arrangement as a clear violation of international law.

Egypt, which has been engaged in a prolonged dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, had previously expressed its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Recently, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry referred to Ethiopia as a source of regional instability. In response to the condemnations of the deal, Redwan Hussien, the national security advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, dismissed them as “jingoism” aimed at creating discord and chaos.

Hussien clarified that the memorandum of understanding signed with Somaliland is a cooperative and partnership agreement that grants Ethiopia access to the sea on business terms, emphasizing that it does not involve annexation or the assumption of sovereignty over any state’s territory.