US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington DC, US on January 9, 2024. PHOTO | AFP
The US white house sees national security concerns in a recent agreement giving Ethiopia leasing rights to the Red Sea coastline in Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region, administration officials said Tuesday. But experts questioned Washington's commitment and ability to quell tensions in the volatile region.
The two parties inked the deal on January 1. At the time, Ethiopian government spokesman Redwan Hussien said the deal also "paves the way for accessing a leased military base on the Red Sea."
