2024 Ethiopia–Somaliland memorandum of understanding

On 1 January 2024, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi. Reportedly, this MoU stated that Somaliland would lease 19 kilometres (12 mi) of its Gulf of Aden coastline to Ethiopia. This agreement follows recent tensions surrounding Prime Minister Ahmed's stated desire for Ethiopia to have access to the Red Sea. In return, the MoU reportedly includes a provision stating Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent state in the future, which would make it the first UN member state to do so.

The deal has received condemnation and opposition from Somalia, Eritrea and Egypt, with Somalia recalling its ambassador to Ethiopia in protest. Somalia previously demanded Ethiopia make a public withdrawal from the MoU before the two countries could engage in any dialogue. The dispute has also put Ethiopian participation in the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in question.

Following talks brokered by Turkey, on 12 December 2024, Ethiopia and Somalia signed Ankara Declaration agreed to end their dispute over Ethiopia's plan to build a port in Somaliland. Notably the agreement made no mention of the MoU, Ethiopia has not confirmed its cancellation and Somaliland maintains the agreement stands.