"Ethiopia-Somaliland Port Deal Sparks Regional Stability Concerns and Recognition Debate"
Ethiopia and the self-declared republic of Somaliland signed a controversial agreement granting Ethiopia access to a portion of Somaliland's coastline in exchange for shares in Ethiopian Airlines and a promise of formal recognition of Somaliland's sovereignty. This deal has sparked outrage in Somalia, which sees it as an infringement on its sovereignty, and has created uncertainty in the Horn of Africa due to the ambiguous nature of Ethiopia's commitment to recognizing Somaliland's statehood. The agreement could potentially disrupt a 2018 tripartite treaty between Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea, and has broader implications for regional diplomacy and Ethiopia's economic ambitions.