The Somaliland government has stated that it has consistently supported agreements granting Ethiopia access to the sea, noting that such cooperation could lead to shared interests and regional development.
In a statement issued on October 3, 2026, the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed its support for plans allowing Ethiopia to secure sea access through mutually beneficial agreements.
The Ministry stated that the Somali government is directly contradicting its own stance regarding Ethiopia’s access to the sea, pointing out that Mogadishu’s campaign against the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland conflicts with the support the Somali government claims to offer Ethiopia for such access.
“The Government of Somaliland has consistently supported negotiated agreements allowing the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to access the sea through mutually beneficial cooperation,” the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement read. Somaliland also stated its opposition to interference in agreements it entered into with other parties, insisting it will continue to pursue deals that respect sovereignty and promote regional prosperity.
Somaliland and Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2024 aimed at facilitating Ethiopia’s access to the sea. That agreement sparked a major diplomatic dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, with Mogadishu characterizing it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.
This statement from Somaliland comes at a time when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has indicated that Somalia does not object to Ethiopia gaining sea access, noting that this could be achieved through a mutual agreement regarding the use of Somalia’s ports.
