Ethiopia silent on Djibouti's port offer in conflict with Somalia

ADDIS ABABA - A week after Djibouti offered to donate a port to Ethiopia as a mitigation for the resolution of brewing conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation I'd yet to state about the new offer by the Red Sea country.

Instead, Ethiopia maintains that Somalia ought to respect its contribution towards internal stability, including the role it has played in crushing Al-Shabaab militants, who control most parts of rural central and southern regions.

Ethiopia, through Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nebiyu Tedla, insisted that before the exit of its troops from Somalia, the United Nations and the African Union must guide the process on Somalia's upcoming mission set for January.

Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamoud Ali Youssouf said his country was ready to offer the Port of Tadjourah, located in the northern part of the country. Ethiopia, he said, will be in charge of the management of the said port.

In an interview with BBC Focus on Africa, Youssouf stated that this offer is part of efforts to ease tensions in the Horn of Africa and ensure Ethiopia’s access to the sea. Ethiopia wants to access the Red Sea and has signed an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.

Youssouf explained that Djibouti is considering granting Ethiopia control over the Tadjourah Port, located approximately 100 kilometers from the Ethiopian border.

He indicated that this proposal aims to address Ethiopia’s challenges regarding sea access and to resolve tensions stemming from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Ethiopia signed with Somaliland, which Somalia opposes, Addis Standard reports.

The proposal, according to Youssouf, involves Ethiopia managing a port in Djibouti’s northern region and potentially using a newly constructed corridor. He noted that Djibouti’s President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, extended this offer, although specific details about the terms were not provided.

GAROWE ONLINE