MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – In a surprising diplomatic move, Somalia has requested the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to establish a regional Blue Economy office in Mogadishu, despite ongoing tensions regarding a recent agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland over sea access.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Fiqi, made the announcement today following a meeting with IGAD Secretary General Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, who is currently on an official visit to the Somali capital.
According to Minister Fiqi, the new office will support regional collaboration on maritime issues, including giving countries like Ethiopia access to Somalia’s coast.
“There is no issue between Somalia and Ethiopia,” Minister Fiqi stated during the meeting, referring to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Somaliland and Ethiopia.
He emphasized Somalia’s commitment to regional unity, calling Ethiopia “a brotherly and neighboring country.”
The proposal comes as a surprise, given Somalia’s previous opposition to the Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU, which sought to grant Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s Berbera port. It is unclear how this new initiative will affect the dynamics of the MoU and relations within the region.
IGAD has yet to comment on the Somali government’s request, but the establishment of a Blue Economy office in Mogadishu could mark a significant shift in regional maritime cooperation, particularly in the Horn of Africa.