Somaliland Eyes Ethiopia’s Recognition Amid Somalia Tensions
In order to make its independence official, Somaliland is about to strike a landmark agreement with Ethiopia eyeing Addis Ababa’s recognition. This deal might change the dynamics within this region in a great way given the fact that it is contentious since Somalia strongly objects to it. A 50 scale sea strip will be leased for 20 years as well as giving permission for establishment of Ethiopian military base on its shore if Ethiopia recognize Somaliland. Somaliland’s leader, Muse Bihi Abdi, initiated this process by signing a memorandum of understanding in January 2024 with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. While details remain undisclosed, this strategic move could enhance Somaliland’s political and economic standing internationally.
As Somaliland commemorates its unilateral declaration of independence on May 18, 1991, its government is optimistic about the potential benefits of Ethiopian recognition. Finance Minister Saad Ali Shire highlighted that recognition would enable Somaliland to engage with international financial systems and borrow from global institutions. Even though the world has been unwilling to recognise Somaliland as an autonomous state since it declared itself such, Somaliland’s government officials such as the Foreign Affairs Minister Essa Kayd have expressed optimism that a deal will be reached shortly to enable this quest for recognition on the global stage become more successful.
In its short period of independence from British colonial rule in 1960, Somaliland should have been at a junction point between history and geography for a very different reason. Nevertheless, this plan sought to bring together those who spoke Somali originally in order to make one republic that did not last long. In 1991, Somaliland declared independence for the second time after the Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime collapsed even though it has not been formally recognized by any country worldwide. Jama Musse Jama and other supporters urge that Somaliland is actually trying to “re-recognize” its sovereignty that it had in the past sought to be acknowledged striving to correct past mistakes and find its own place in the international arena.
