Somaliland opens new container port

A new port has been officially opened in the self-declared republic of Somaliland which should help boost exports between the Horn of Africa and the Gulf Region.

The container port is also potentially of huge benefit to land-locked Ethiopia, which is currently reliant on Djibouti for shipping its exports and imports.

Last month the Addis Ababa government and Dubai’s DP World - one of the world's largest port operators – agreed a $1bn (£720m) deal to create a trade and logistics corridor between Ethiopia and Berbera.

President Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland tweeted about the new port:

I am very grateful to @DP_World for turning our dreams into reality as the completion of the 1st phase of Berbera port Expansion is inaugurated. Now, Berbera Port is a regional trade and logistic hub, and it will be a global centre of trade and logistics.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Somaliland Presidency]