Ethiopia's agreement with breakaway region Somaliland, seeking port access in exchange for potential sovereignty recognition, could cause upheaval in the Horn of Africa. Under different circumstances, the kind of deal agreed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland would have been relatively straightforward. Besides using the port for international trade, Ethiopia also wants to lease land from Somaliland to build a naval base. In addition to the full-scale war in 1977-78, Somalia has deployed rebel militias in what is now Ethiopia's Somali region. Ethiopia's Somali region, which used to be a point of conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, has suffered long droughts as well as floodings in the last years.

Source: Ethiopian News January 08, 2024 19:05 UTC