Somaliland has reiterated its readiness to discuss Ethiopia’s need for access to the sea, with Foreign Minister Abdirahman Duale Behi describing Ethiopia as a close partner and highlighting the potential of the Berbera Port and its connecting trade corridor to strengthen economic cooperation between the two sides.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Behi said Somaliland was prepared to engage with Ethiopia on arrangements for maritime access, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in addressing Ethiopia’s growing demand for port services and expanding trade opportunities in the Horn of Africa.
“Somaliland is ready to support them and to dialogue with them at any time and any place,” the minister said, referring to Ethiopia’s need for access to the sea.
He described Ethiopia as one of Somaliland’s closest allies and said the two sides could benefit from a mutually advantageous economic partnership.
The minister’s remarks underscore the strategic importance of maritime access for landlocked Ethiopia, which depends on regional ports and transport corridors to facilitate international trade. Expanded access to port infrastructure could help diversify Ethiopia’s trade routes, improve logistics and create opportunities for stronger regional economic integration.
Behi pointed to Berbera Port as a potential gateway for Ethiopian trade, saying the facility had undergone modernization with investment from DP World but was not yet operating at its full capacity.
According to the minister, the port was utilizing approximately 30 to 40 percent of its capacity, leaving room for increased commercial activity and greater regional connectivity.
He said Ethiopia could benefit from the port’s existing infrastructure and the corridor connecting it to the Ethiopian market. Somaliland, he added, was prepared to discuss how the facilities could better serve Ethiopia’s maritime transport requirements.
“Ethiopia is in need of more ports,” Behi said, emphasizing that Somaliland viewed its neighbor as an important economic partner.
The minister also reaffirmed Somaliland’s commitment to dialogue concerning the memorandum of understanding between the two sides, although he did not provide a specific timeline or detailed implementation plan for Ethiopia’s potential access to the sea.
Turning Berbera into a major regional trade hub is another priority identified by the Somaliland government. Behi said the port had the potential to serve as a gateway to wider African markets, with Ethiopia representing an important source of additional cargo and commercial demand.
Greater utilization of the port could also support investment in transport services, logistics, warehousing and related infrastructure along the corridor, potentially creating economic opportunities for businesses operating across the region.
However, the development of a broader partnership would depend on negotiations over the terms of maritime access, the commercial arrangements governing port use and the practical requirements for efficient cross-border transport.
Beyond trade, Behi highlighted the importance of stability and dialogue in the Horn of Africa, a region facing complex political and security challenges.
He said Somaliland supported resolving regional disputes through peaceful negotiations and expressed concern about conflicts in neighboring countries. He also emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic importance to the region and said Somaliland hoped regional tensions could be addressed through dialogue.
The interview placed Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions within a wider regional context involving port competition, security along major shipping routes and changing political relationships across the Horn of Africa.
