As the first cracks in the fallout between Ethiopia and Somaliland start over UAE military base in Berbera with Addis Ababa committing millions to Puntland
By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun- The old Kacaan (revolution) airport in Galkayo town is to see a major facelift courtesy of Ethiopian largesse
According to president Gas of Puntland, the Somalia administrative region is in agreement with the Federal government in Addis Ababa as pertains multimillion dollar funding towards revamping the Airport in Galkayo as well as the Garowe- Eyl Road
Though he did not give actual figures to be expended by the Ethiopians, after a sojourn in Addis Ababa, President Gas neither divulged meeting a Chinese construction company.
According to sources, the Ethiopian projects shall be implemented by a Chinese construction firm that is allegedly to share in the costs.
Whether the Chinese are involved or not the two major projects are to be initiated in May this year.
While Ethiopians have been in massive uplifting of their internal infrastructures and other development projects that have been possible by increased GDP, foreign funding by Addis Ababa is novel.
According to Yumoha Pasha a Horn Africa analyst and watcher, the Ethiopian projects in Puntland are a diplomatic show of displeasure with Somaliland following the award of military base to the United Arab Emirates at the port of Berbera
Though the Ethiopians are yet to comment on the Emirati base, Addis Ababa is not happy with the move which will certainly bring its Nile river arch enemy Egypt within striking distance of the GERD dam.
If this be true then it is another lost opportunity for Somaliland especially as pertains lengthily relations with Ethiopia the only country to treat Somaliland as an equal despite its none recognition as a sovereign state
For the Abyssinians being wary of the UAE military base with striking distance to their entire country is justifiable considering the long standing dispute with the pharoahs over the use of Nile waters most of which emanate from Ethiopia but Ethiopians not allowed to use.
If only the Somaliland deal awarding a military base was more open thence terms available publicly as opposed to prevalent status in which nothing is known then the alleged issue of Egyptian and USA involvement might have been put to rest.
Once again it appears as if Somaliland authorities are operating without regard to neither geopolitical concerns nor national interests, which is a sad case indeed
