Ethiopia Signs Port Deal with Somaliland, Sparking Regional Tensions
• Ethiopia has signed a deal to lease a port and stretch of coastline from Somaliland, angering the government of Somalia which claims Somaliland as its territory
• The deal gives landlocked Ethiopia long-sought access to the sea and advances Somaliland's bid for independence
• Somalia has reacted furiously, accusing Ethiopia of destabilizing the region and fueling support for al-Shabab militants
• The deal is seen as a diplomatic coup for Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, fulfilling his ambitions for Ethiopian naval access to the Red Sea
• The agreement has alarmed other regional powers like Egypt and Djibouti and may have been facilitated by the UAE as it seeks regional influence