As expected, the fallout of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland in relation to Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea continues to rumble on. After signing the MOU, Somalia responded and said the agreement was “null and void” as Somaliland is part of Somalia and not an independent nation, and therefore sees the agreement as a violation of its sovereignty. The Africa Union has intervened to calm the situation. But what is clear is that Ethiopia, as the largest populated landlocked country on earth is desperate for access to sea while Somaliland, a breakaway nation from Somalia since 1991, is desperate for international recognition.
