ADDIS ABABA (SD) – Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi has today arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia amid concern over Berbera port stake.

The leader was invited by Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed.

Bihi was accompanied by a delegation of senior government officials among them Foreign Affairs Minister Essa Kayd Mohamoud.

The high level delegation was welcomed by Ethiopian officials at Bole international Airport in Addis Ababa.

Sources have also said Ethiopia is eyeing a deal on the management of the strategic Zayla port as Addis Ababa seeks to expand its access to sea transport.

Bihi is expected to hold talks with Ethiopian leaders but sources says leaders may talk over Somaliland proposals to seek more port stake inBerbera port. 

In 2019, an agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World was signed.

 The deal gave DP World a 51% stake in the port and Ethiopia would acquire 19%. Somaliland Port Authority will retain 30%.

DP World originally took a 65 percent share in the port in 2016 as part of a joint venture with the government of Somaliland under a 30-year concession.