MOGADISHU, Somalia >> Landlocked Ethiopia took the first steps toward gaining access to the sea on Monday, signing an agreement in the capital of Addis Ababa with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland to access the Somaliland coastline. The agreement strengthens the security, economic and political partnership between Ethiopia and Somaliland, a statement from the Ethiopian prime minister’s office said. Somaliland President Abdi said the agreement included a statement that Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent country in the near future. Somalia and Somaliland reached an agreement in Djibouti on Friday to strengthen cooperation on security and the fight against organized crime. Ethiopia lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in 1993.
