Page 19 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 24

Economy

and Somaliland for many years, My message to people is to move
Somaliland has been conducting its forward,” the analyst underscored.
affairs differently in the spheres of For Freeman those people who are
currency, economy, governance and screaming about war are either fools
others. or they’re being manipulated by other
forces in the wrong way.
The MoU “can offer economic
growth to actually both nations In general, the American analyst
because if Somaliland is growing, stated that the MoU is very
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Somalia is growing too…. Statements important for Ethiopia to realize the
Africa, who has been involved in economic development like ‘we’re not going to give one advancement of import-export trade
policies for Africa for over 30 years. He is a teacher, inch of our territory’ is the kind and allow the nation to have greater
writer, public speaker, and consultant on Africa. Mr. of talking that is not helpful. We’re access to the rest of the world.
Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an going to have to move forward. We
essential human right. He is also the creator of the blog: can’t stay the way we are. We need to Ethiopia also being the largest
lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com have a resolution between those two economy and population, the area
between Somalia and Somaliland.” can make perfect sense to build a
naval capacity it once had when it
linkage into international trade Beyond that the problems in the accessed the Red Sea, he added.
among nations, instead of exporting Horn of Africa are very complicated
everything outside the nation. So this and emanate from a whole bunch of More importantly, Ethiopia is also
could be a useful example for the rest leftover problems from the days of now going to play a major role
of the continent.” colonialism, he noted. as the country has become a new
member of the BRICS, the leading
However, there are political forces There is a lot of antagonism and institution of the global South, with
within the Horn of Africa and complications that come from a new paradigm for development of
around the world who would like to colonial history. emerging nations.
continue destabilizing the region, the
American analyst noted. “As for the amount of anger and That gives Ethiopia a great deal of
hatred that I see from people against an opportunity to begin to deal with
He particularly pointed out that there one country versus another, we’re all the political-economic frailties
are manipulators and political forces not going to give up. We’re not going and create a new level of regional
screaming war constantly. to let them know that you’re stuck in cooperation in the region.
the mind of the old colonists picture.
When the prime minister talked
about the port in October 2023,
dozens of articles were published
predicting war. But, there was no
indication of war, he stated.

According to Freeman, the historic
MoU was signed in a peaceful manner
and has the potential to bring other
countries to cooperate with Ethiopia
in this geopolitically strategic part of
the world.

He advised specifically Somalis to
refrain from inflammatory statements
and resolve the issue calmly.

Given the conflict between Somalia
Residents of Hargeisa, Somaliland’s Capital, celebrated the MoU on the streets up
on the return home of President Muse Bihi Abdi on Thursday. Photo: SM

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