In an interview with VOA's Horn of Africa Service, Youssouf revealed that Djibouti, along with other countries such as Turkey, has been mediating in the conflict that began earlier this year when Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Somaliland, a move Somalia views as an infringement on its sovereignty.
Under the MOU, Somaliland would lease 20 kilometers of shoreline to Ethiopia in exchange for recognition. Ethiopia already depends heavily on Djibouti's main port for most of its imports, utilizing four different terminals. Youssouf, who is also a candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson, added that Djibouti is prepared to offer Ethiopia access to a new port near the northern border and is even open to joint management of the facility.
Despite two rounds of unsuccessful talks in Turkey, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie remains optimistic about achieving a peaceful resolution to Ethiopia's need for reliable sea access. Meanwhile, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated that while Somalia is open to granting commercial sea access to Ethiopia, it will not permit any naval base.
Djibouti presented its port proposal a month ago and received a positive response from Ethiopia, indicating a willingness to explore the technical aspects further. Youssouf expects additional discussions in the coming days or weeks to finalize the plan.
Djibouti Hosts Foreign Military Bases
As a small nation in a strategic maritime location, Djibouti hosts military bases for several countries, including France, the United States, Italy, Japan, and China. Youssouf emphasized that Djibouti's neutrality and the need to ensure safe navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are the primary reasons for hosting these bases. He clarified that Djibouti's offer to Ethiopia does not include a naval base, citing limited space and a desire to avoid tensions among the existing military presences.
The proposal aims to restore the historically good relations between Ethiopia and Somalia. The foreign ministries of both Somalia and Ethiopia did not immediately respond to VOA's request for comment.
