Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, said that his country is ready to offer Ethiopia 100% port access in an effort to ease regional tensions, as stated in his exclusive interview on BBC’s Focus on Africa on Friday.
This proposal comes amid ongoing geopolitical shifts in the Horn of Africa, where Ethiopia has been seeking alternative port access routes due to its landlocked status.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia signed a seaport access agreement with Somaliland.
That agreement has created massive tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.
The latter accuses Ethiopia of disrespecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as it considers Somaliland part of Somalia.
Interestingly, Youssouf is also one of the four candidates running to succeed the current African Union (AU) Chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, next year.
His candidacy may be influenced by such diplomatic moves, which aim to strengthen regional cooperation and showcase his leadership capabilities on the continental stage.
This strategic offer from Djibouti could be significant in redefining regional alliances and economic partnerships, especially considering Ethiopia’s growing economy and need for reliable trade routes.