Djibouti makes U-turn on port offer to Ethiopia

The government of Djibouti has possibly changed its mind after offering a port to Ethiopia, a move that was meant to ease tensions within the Horn of Africa, particularly the current standoff between Somalia and Ethiopia on access to the Red Sea.

According to Djibouti, Ethiopia shall be granted partial management of the port of Tadjourah, where Djibouti will closely supervise the operations as part of bolstering the relationship. Earlier, Ethiopia had been granted an offer for full oversight of the operations.

Mohamed Ali Youssouf, Djibouti's Foreign Affairs minister, had hinted that his country should give Ethiopia full access and management of the port of Tadjourah, a strategic move geared towards easing tensions within the region.

"We never said we sold or handed over the port. What we're proposing is joint management of Tadjoura to maintain Ethiopia's trade flow," Youssouf said in a statement while insisting on 100% control by Ethiopia..

The $60 million Tadjoura Port, constructed by Djibouti, is struggling with operational costs, particularly employee wages. Youssouf explained that the government is looking to turn the port into a commercial hub to prevent Ethiopia from shifting its trade routes to neighbouring ports in Somaliland and Eritrea, Addis Standard reports.

Ethiopia has traditionally used the ports of Djibouti, Sudan, and Lamu located in three different countries, making the cost of operations 'ridiculous'. This guided the recent agreement with Somaliland for the access of the Red Sea, a move rebuked by Somalia.

"We want to make sure Djibouti retains a significant share of Ethiopia's business," Youssouf emphasized.

Despite the initial stand, However, Youssouf clarified that while Djibouti remains focused on trade and economic cooperation, Ethiopia would not be granted a naval base. By offering Ethiopia access to the Port of Tadjoura, Djibouti hopes to maintain its position as Ethiopia's primary gateway to the sea.

Somalia has rejected the agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, arguing that it amounts to infringement of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. If actualized, the deal would see Ethiopia getting 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for the construction of a port and military base.

In return, Ethiopia has pledged to fully recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, a decision which has further provoked Somalia, necessitating the most recent duels. Turkey has hosted rounds of negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, though no resolution has been accompanied.

GAROWE ONLINE