Puntland seeks strong relations with Ethiopia

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Puntland seeks strong relations with Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA (HORN OBSERVER) - Puntland Delegation has on Wednesday met with Ethiopian government officials in Addis Ababa in a bid to foster strong bilateral relations emphasizing energy cooperation and joint infrastructure projects.

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a high-level delegation from Puntland, led by Finance Minister Mohamed Farah Mohamed, met with Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa on April 3rd, 2024. The Puntland delegation engaged in discussions with Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga. | PHOTO/ Ethiopian MOFA.

ADDIS ABABA (HORN OBSERVER) - Puntland Delegation has on Wednesday met with Ethiopian government officials in Addis Ababa in a bid to foster strong bilateral relations emphasizing energy cooperation and joint infrastructure projects.

In a significant move to strengthen regional ties, a high-level delegation from Puntland, led by Finance Minister Mohamed Farah Mohamed, met with Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa on April 3rd, 2024.

Accotding to Ethiopian Foreign Affairs officials, the Puntland delegation engaged in discussions with Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, marking the first official meeting outside Puntland since the new government took office on February 8th, 2024.

The meeting comes at a pivotal time as Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni earlier this week announced his government's withdrawal from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in protest of the constitutional amendment declared by the current administration of president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Puntland, a self-sufficient regional administration, does not rely on FGS support like other states, and this move underscores its autonomy and determination to forge its own path.

During the discussions, energy cooperation and investments for joint infrastructure projects took center stage. Puntland, with its two major ports, Garacad and Bossaso, stands to benefit immensely from a strengthened relationship with Ethiopia. The deep-water container terminal at Garacad in the Mudug region's coastal line and the expansion of the Bossaso port, spearheaded by DP World, position Puntland as a strategic maritime hub.

a high-level delegation from Puntland, led by Finance Minister Mohamed Farah Mohamed, met with Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa on April 3rd, 2024. The Puntland delegation engaged in discussions with Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga.

Access to reliable energy sources from Ethiopia could provide a significant boost to Puntland's development and economic growth. The region currently lacks sufficient energy resources to fuel its light industries and expand its lucrative fishing industry, which could become one of the largest in Somalia with the support of Ethiopian electricity.

Economic Integration: A Win-Win Situation

The potential for economic integration between Ethiopia and Puntland holds promising prospects. With energy support from Ethiopia, Puntland could establish large-scale freezers and cold storage facilities along its coastline, facilitating the growth of its fishing industry. This, in turn, could contribute to regional resilience, boost security, and reduce issues such as piracy and other insecurity-related challenges.

Conversely, Ethiopia could benefit from Puntland's thriving fishing industry and utilize its ports for importing goods from across the globe. Given the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea, Puntland's deep-water terminal at Garacad in the Indian Ocean could serve as an alternative gateway for Ethiopia, ensuring uninterrupted trade flows.

The meeting also highlighted the potential for cooperation in the educational sector, with Ethiopia's prestigious universities offering opportunities for the approximately 10,000 students from Puntland who were forced to withdraw from Amoud University in Borama, Somaliland, following the SSC-Somaliland conflict in Las'anod.

On the security front, Puntland and Ethiopia share a long border, and collaborative efforts to protect these borders through interactive security measures could help prevent potential Al-Shabaab raids, benefiting both neighbors.

While the meeting focused on strengthening ties, concerns were raised regarding the perceived neglect of the Dolo region in the Somali state of Ethiopia, where many people with close ancestral ties to Puntland reside. Areas such as Wardheer, Galaadi, and Bookh lack basic services like electricity and internet access, in contrast to the regions bordering Somaliland, which enjoy better infrastructure.

Both sides also stressed the need for the Ethiopian Federal Government to address regional disparities and consider Puntland as a strategic regional ally, particularly in light of the recent support extended by Puntland to the Somali State of Somalia (SSC) in its conflict with Somaliland forces in Las'anod.

As Ethiopia looks to solidify its regional partnerships, the initial ministerial-level meeting with Puntland on April 3rd, 2024, in Addis Ababa, sets the stage for deeper cooperation in vital areas of integrated regional economy, security, and infrastructure development. The discussions emphasize the importance of changing the current narrative surrounding the Dolo region, which borders Puntland and the SSC, to ensure equitable treatment and access to services on par with regions bordering Somaliland.

This high-level engagement marks a significant step forward in fostering stronger ties between Puntland and Ethiopia, paving the way for mutually beneficial collaborations that could foster regional stability, economic growth, and enhanced security cooperation.