Somalia government has reacted to the signing of a deal that gave Ethiopia 19% ownership of the Berbera port terming it illegal and a threat to the Somali unity and sovereignity.
“The Federal Government of Somalia is not party to this so-called investment agreement” a statement from the Ministry of  Ports and Marine Transport said.
The statement dated March 2 refers to Somaliland as a state within Somalia and not a “Republic” as referred to the deal signed on Thursday in Dubai, UAE.
“The so called agreement is both defective and detrimental to the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia” the statement said.
“The ministry therefore considering the above declares this deal as non existent null and void” the Ministry said.
Following the deal UAE company DP World has a 51% stake of the strategic port while Somaliland share is 30%
The $1Bn deal was signed by Dr Saad Ali Shire Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister, Ethiopia Transport Minister Ahmed Shide and CEO DP World Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
Notably the deal was signed as the Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire toured the Gulf country.
