The Ethiopian government, headed by Abiy Ahmed, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (initial agreement) with the President of Somaliland at the beginning of this January, to acquire an area of 20 square kilometers near the port of Berbera overlooking the Gulf of Aden, so as to use it for trading purposes or as a military base, and in return recognizing Somaliland as an independent state, besides obtaining a stake in Ethiopian Airlines.

The announcement of the memorandum of agreement provoked a response from the Somali government, which promptly indicated its rejection of it. As a result, Somalia pursued a series of legal, security, and diplomatic approaches in its political escalation against Ethiopia and Somaliland.

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