Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently addressed the ongoing regional discourse regarding Ethiopia’s desire for maritime access. According to the President, while the possibility of port access remains a subject of discussion, the Ethiopian government has not yet initiated formal negotiations with Mogadishu. The Somali administration maintains that any arrangement regarding the use of its ports must be handled through official diplomatic channels and bilateral agreements.

This statement comes amid broader regional tensions in the Horn of Africa, where landlocked Ethiopia has been seeking reliable access to the sea to support its economic growth. While Ethiopia has expressed a strong interest in securing a port, the Somali government has consistently signaled that sovereignty and formal state-to-state negotiations are the required prerequisites for any such deal. Currently, there is no evidence of a signed agreement or an active roadmap for these negotiations, as the Somali government insists that the first step—direct engagement—has yet to occur.