Ethiopia has agreed to divert its fuel imports to the Berbera Port of Somaliland. It was revealed by Berbera city mayor on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Somaliland Independence Day was celebrated in Addis Ababa. Somaliland celebrates its independence day on May 20. But the program in Ethiopia was held on May 28.
Diplomats from Somaliland Embassy in Ethiopia, Ethiopian government officials and foreign diplomats attended Wednesday’s celebratory program in Addis Ababa. Berbera mayor also came to attend the program. Abdishakur Mohamoud Hassan the mayor delivered a speech.
The mayor announced that Ethiopia would divert its fuel imports to Berbera port and the port would handle Ethiopia exports too.
At the start of this year, Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland. The MoU would grant access to landlocked Ethiopia to sea. In return, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as a country. Ethiopia would divert part of its cargo to Berbera port and Somaliland would have shares in one profitable Ethiopian entity.
Somalia has been opposing the MoU, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia but it has been operating almost independently for almost three decades.
Ethiopia, reliant on Djibouti’s port for the last 3 decades, announced last year to diversify its use of ports. This month, Ethiopia started using Lamu port of Kenya. It imported 60,000 tons of fertilizer through this port this month.
It seems that Ethiopia intends to divert its oil imports too from Djibouti’s ports. Djibouti has been relying heavily on port revenues earned from Ethiopian cargo.
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