Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Responds to Somali Government’s Claims on Sea Access

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to recent statements by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, clarifying the circumstances surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland. The Ministry alleges that the MoU was signed only after the Somali government refused to engage in discussions regarding Ethiopia’s request for commercial access to the sea.

In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Ministry stated, “Access to the sea is critical for Ethiopia’s growing economy and population. The MoU we signed with Somaliland came after the Somali government’s refusal to talk with Ethiopia in the first place.” This assertion comes in response to President Mohamud’s recent remarks that Somalia did not deny Ethiopia access to the sea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had previously addressed the issue, emphasizing the importance of direct dialogue between the two neighboring nations. “It is very simple because we have no fight with the Somali government,” PM Abiy said, criticizing the Somali government’s approach of seeking international forums to address bilateral issues. “My advice is don’t waste money; we spend money when we go around countries,” he added, as quoted according to a reporting by Addis Standard.

Ethiopia, a landlocked country with a rapidly growing economy, has been seeking avenues to secure direct access to the Red Sea to enhance its trade capabilities. PM Abiy reiterated that this is a legitimate and urgent national interest for Ethiopia, and called for peaceful negotiations and mutual cooperation to resolve the matter.

Despite Ethiopia’s readiness for dialogue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that repeated efforts to engage the Somali government in discussions had been unsuccessful, leading to the decision to pursue an agreement with Somaliland. This move, according to Ethiopian officials, is not intended to undermine Somalia’s unity but to address Ethiopia’s critical economic needs.

The ongoing tension over sea access has led to regional diplomatic efforts, with the foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Somalia recently holding talks in Türkiye. A second round of discussions is scheduled for September in Ankara, with Türkiye acting as a mediator.

In the broader context, PM Abiy assured neighboring countries that Ethiopia seeks peaceful coexistence and mutual development. “Ethiopia wants to reconcile this without lives lost; without insulting each other and without wasting money traveling to [other] countries. If there is a win-win approach for common benefit, the Ethiopian government is always ready to work together,” AS quoted the Prime Minister.

Mustaqbal