On Wednesday, Addis Ababa released on X (formerly Twitter) more information regarding the memorandum of understanding signed with Somaliland on January 1.
Ethiopia will be granted a 50-year lease to establish a naval base and provide commercial maritime services in the strategically significant Gulf of Aden. In return, Somaliland receives a stake in Ethiopian Airlines.
Ethiopia stated that its agreement with Somaliland to gain access to the Red Sea enables the government to conduct an "in-depth assessment" before deciding whether to recognize the breakaway region of Somalia.
In its turn, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a coalition of East African governments, voiced apprehensions.
"IGAD is diligently monitoring the situation and recognizes the potential implications for regional stability," Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said in a statement.
Furthermore, the Somali government expressed "deep dissatisfaction" with IGAD's statement and "considers it to be in favor of the Ethiopian Government."
"The statement unfortunately falls short in condemning the Ethiopian Government of violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia contrary to the fundamental principles of UN, AU, IGAD and other international laws," the statement said.
However, Ethiopia affirmed that the agreement serves as a peaceful solution to its need to secure access to the sea.
"The position announced by the government is strongly rooted in a desire to not engage in a war with anyone, to ensure that the options pursued are mutually beneficial to all stakeholders and expresses Ethiopia’s readiness to share its endowments," the agreement said.
Additionally, Ethiopia claimed there were no grievances regarding Somaliland's ratification of agreements with other nations.
For instance, in recent years, the breakaway region's port of Berbera has come under the management of Dubai's state-owned DP World Ltd.
Ethiopia, a country without access to the sea, needs to have a seaport to avoid dependence on neighboring ports. Access to the sea is one of the main tasks for the successful development of the nation, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali recently said.