"Ethiopia-Somaliland Port Deal Sparks Regional Tensions and Sovereignty Dispute"
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced a deal to lease a naval port and a stretch of Red Sea coastline from the self-declared state of Somaliland, potentially offering Somaliland shares in Ethiopian Airlines and diplomatic recognition in exchange. This move has sparked outrage from Somalia, which claims Somaliland as part of its territory, and has disrupted a recent agreement between the two regions to discuss Somaliland's constitutional status. The deal challenges the African Union's stance against redrawing borders and could have significant geopolitical implications for the Horn of Africa, including altering trade dynamics and regional alliances.