Context: Ethiopia has struck a historic deal to use Somaliland’s Berbera port in the breakaway region of Somaliland for shipping.
About Berbera Port
- Berbera Port is located in the Gulf of Aden. Berbera is considered to be the commercial capital of Somaliland.
- The deal will give Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. Ethiopia is Africa’s second largest populated country and is landlocked. Ethiopia lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia and declared independence in 1993.
About Somaliland
- Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an unrecognized state in the Horn of Africa, recognized internationally as de jure part of Somalia.
- It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east.
- The capital and largest city is Hargeisa.
- Since 1991, the territory has been governed by democratically elected governments that seek international recognition as the government of the Republic of Somaliland.
- The central government maintains informal ties with some foreign governments, who have sent delegations to Hargeisa.
- Somaliland is currently recognized by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and hosts representative offices from several other countries, most notably Ethiopia.
- However, Somaliland's self-proclaimed independence has not been officially recognized by any UN member state or international organization.
- It is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, an advocacy group whose members consist of indigenous peoples, minorities and unrecognized or occupied territories.