Ethiopia suspends its share on Berbera Port

SOMALILAND.COM – Ethiopia has fully suspended its share on the new development of Berbera Port and instead, wants to complete the formal possessing of acquiring land at Sudan to develop its own port.

On different occasions, the two countries agreed to develop a port in Sudan that will be an optional sea outlet for landlocked Ethiopia.

According to an Addis Ababa based news agency, CapitalEthiopia, Ethiopia is acquiring land at Sudan to develop its own port.

This means that the Horn of African county removes its shares from Berbera port in Somaliland which has for many years served as its second official port after Djibouti since Eritrea seceded from the rest of Ethiopia.

According to the paper, Ethiopia had a 19 percent share on the new development of Berbera Port but it was reported this week that the project is fully suspended.

This is a big blow to Somaliland which after the exportation of livestock solely depends on the goods taxed at Berbera port which serves as the official port of Somaliland.

After Abiy Ahmed come to the premiership, Ethiopia and Sudan have strengthened the idea of developing a facility at Port Sudan, a major seaport town in Sudan.

In the latest dialogue, Addis Wog, organized by Office of the Prime Minister on the logistics sector Matios Enser (PhD), a lecturer at Addis Ababa University, said that the country should develop its own port in the region.

On the discussion held on Friday, March 6, he recommended Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise (ESLSE) to develop seaports in the region as seeing the experience of others, like the DP World. He further said that there are alternatives in the region that the government will really consider.

Regarding securing the plot at Sudan, a delegation from the Arab country is expected to visit Ethiopia before the end of the week.

Ethiopia’s major port outlet is Djibouti, which enabled to develop the facility significantly compared with others in the regions. Ethiopia has also interest to get a stake in Djibouti and the two countries agreed to swap shares on mega facilities in their countries.

Ethiopia also took a 19 percent share on the new development of Berbera Port but it was reported this week that the project is fully suspended.

Ethiopia has also an interest to work with Kenya and Eritrea in developing port facilities.