The British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Darren Welch, said that the UK supports the progress made at the Berbera port, and the implementation of a cargo agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia, as previously stated by the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro.
Welch, who gave an interview to Ethiopian media, was asked about Ethiopia’s efforts to gain access to the sea. He replied that he supports the progress made at the Berbera port, the ongoing work on it, and that Ethiopia and Somaliland reach a trade agreement.
“I can understand that Ethiopia, which is growing economically and socially, needs different commercial ports. The UK government supports the work being done at the Berbera port, and also supports the cargo agreement so that goods can easily move between the port and Ethiopia,” said Ambassador Welch.
He said that he comes from a country with hundreds of ports, and he can understand the need for a landlocked country. Meanwhile, he called on the Ethiopian government and other regional governments to de-escalate the situation, saying the region needs cooperation and to peacefully pursue its goals in Addis Ababa.
“We argue that any crisis should be resolved through peaceful dialogue,” he said. When asked about the importance of the sea route for Ethiopia, he said that apart from its need to interact with the rest of the world, it is also important for strengthening its trade with African countries.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Cirro, in an exclusive interview with CNN Business Arabic, said that a trade agreement through Ethiopia would soon be concluded. “We have an agreement with Ethiopia on cargo that I hope will be concluded soon,” Cirro said.
He added that he wants to create a peaceful region where trade flourishes, noting that he is particularly ready to enter into an agreement with the US government on the trade of precious minerals found in Somaliland.
Somaliland now has one of the most modern ports in the region, with the UAE government spending more than $400 million on the development of the Berbera port, airport and road linking Berbera to Ethiopia. Ethiopia was previously given a 19 percent stake in the port, which was withdrawn after it failed to meet certain conditions.
