In a bid to alleviate diplomatic tension, the Djibouti government has revealed its intention to provide the Ethiopian government with exclusive access to its latest port. This step is hoped to address the long-lived demand by its neighbor, which is sandwiched between harsh terrain and oceans.
This decision was made because earlier this year, in January, Ethiopia started a disagreement by suggesting that the semi-autonomous region called Somaliland should be recognized as an independent country. Ethiopia also asked for a strategic naval route in the Gulf of Aden. However, Somalia sees Somaliland as part of its own land and strongly disagreed with this plan, which made the relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia even worse.
By offering Ethiopia exclusive port access, Djibouti hopes to ease tensions and promote regional stability. This highlights the importance of diplomacy in resolving intricate geopolitical matters and fostering collaboration among nations.