In brief
- Somaliland and Ethiopia signed an agreement on the use of Somaliland's Berbera port on a Friday at Debra-Zeyit in Ethiopia, according to a Somaliland Sun report published on 2016-04-02.
- The report attributes statements to Somaliland officials describing the agreement as a triumph and expected to create jobs and boost the economy, but it provides no monetary value, funding source, construction scope, or timeline.
- The report does not establish that any implementation, construction, or trade flows have occurred since the signing.
On 2 April 2016, Somaliland Sun reported that Somaliland and Ethiopia had signed an agreement on the use of Somaliland's Berbera port. The signing took place "on Friday at Debra-Zeyit in Ethiopia," according to the report. The publication does not establish what has happened since that date.
The Somaliland delegation was led by Berbera Port CEO Engineer Ali Omar Mohamed Hoorhoor, the report said. The agreement was described by Somaliland Minister of Trade and Investments Hussein Adam Egge as "a huge triumph for the country," according to the same report. The minister said the agreement came after talks that continued for almost a decade.
Somaliland Sun quoted the minister as predicting that the agreement would boost the country's economy, create jobs and lift skills. Berbera Port CEO Hoorhoor said the agreements would be put into implementation as soon as possible, the report states. He described the accord as a follow-up to an earlier agreement on use of the port by Ethiopia, though the earlier agreement is not identified by date or terms.
The Ethiopian representative, who is not named in the article, said implementation was most important so both countries could benefit, according to Somaliland Sun. Ambassador Aden Muse Jibril called it a historic moment, saying the idea was mooted 110 years ago, the report states.
The article also cites a February address by Ethiopian transport minister Workoneh Gebeyehu to parliament in Addis Ababa, in which the minister said Ethiopia planned to import 15 percent of its total imports through Berbera. The report says the Ethiopian ESLSE firm, which operates one and a half dozen vessels including two oil tankers, is expected to open an office in Berbera.
What the report does not establish is any evidence of implementation, funding, construction or operational developments since the signing. No monetary value, contract value, funding source, construction scope or timeline is given. The specific Friday date of the signing in 2016 is not tied to a calendar date in the article; the publication date is 2016-04-02. And while official statements point to future benefits, the Somaliland Sun report provides no evidence that jobs, trade volumes or economic gains have materialized.
Frequently asked questions
What does the agreement entail?
The agreement covers the use of Somaliland's Berbera port by Ethiopia, as reported by Somaliland Sun on 2016-04-02. No monetary value, funding, or construction details were stated.
Which ports are involved?
The agreement is specifically for the use of Berbera port in Somaliland, according to the Somaliland Sun report.
What investments are planned?
The Somali and Ethiopian officials made forward-looking statements about job creation and economic benefits, but the report does not specify any investment amount or funding source.