ADDIS ABABA - Landlocked Ethiopia signed a port deal with the self-declared republic of Somaliland for access to the Red Sea, prompting criticism by Somalia.
Ethiopia said the agreement, signed on Monday, would enable it to set up commercial marine operations and provide access to a leased military base on the Red Sea.
It also said it would recognize Somaliland — which declared autonomy from Somalia in 1991 — as an independent nation in due course.
Somalia said the deal “endangers the stability and peace of the region” and recalled its ambassador in Ethiopia.
A recent call by Ethiopia’s prime minister for Red Sea access raised tensions in the region.
Somalia’s cabinet says pact allowing Ethiopia to use Red Sea port of Berbera endangers the region’s stability.
