China set to stay on neutral ground as a Red Sea storm brews over Ethiopia’s port deal with Somaliland

A deal between landlocked Ethiopia and the self-declared state of Somaliland for port access has caused ructions in East Africa

As China has ties with Ethiopia and Somalia, which has already repealed Somaliland’s deal, analysts expect Beijing to stay out of the row

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Somaliland has given Ethiopia access to its ports, such as the port of Berbera (pictured) in return for recognising it as an independent state. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 14 Jan 2024Updated: 12:23pm, 14 Jan 2024

China is unlikely to take sides in the diplomatic storm that is brewing between Ethiopia and Somalia over a controversial Red Sea port deal, according to analysts.

Landlocked Ethiopia made the deal at the start of the year with the self-declared state of Somaliland, giving the East African nation access to its ports in return for officially recognising it as an independent country.

Somaliland proclaimed its independence in 1991, but since then it has not been recognised by any other country. Somali capital Mogadishu continues to consider the region part of northern Somalia.

This deal would make Ethiopia the first nation to recognise the breakaway state.

China views Somaliland as part of Somalia’s territory and an internal matter. However, Beijing has been apprehensive of growing ties between Somaliland and Taiwan since 2020, when they set up representative offices.

“China supports the federal government of Somalia in safeguarding national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday.

“Meanwhile, we hope that regional countries will handle regional affairs well through dialogue and achieve common development by having friendly cooperation.”