Page 17 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 26

Economy

benefit all the countries in the How do you think could dip-
region because they will bene- lomatic approach help reach
fit from the expansion of trade consensus among the coun-
and commerce. Number four, if tries that signed the MoU and
Ethiopia is going to have access others?
to a port, then they need to have
long term agreement. It can’t be Well, the fact of the matter is,
a one year two year; we’ll do it if the Somali government was
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for when we want. It can’t be ca- more thoughtful, the eloquent
Africa, who has been involved in economic development pricious. If Ethiopia is going to solution would be simply. Say
policies for Africa for over 30 years. He is a teacher,
writer, public speaker, and consultant on Africa. Mr. make investments, which they we consider Somaliland part of
Freeman strongly believes that economic development is an have to do in infrastructure to Somalia, if Somalia government
essential human right. He is also the creator of the blog: make the poor profitable and ef- is, is looking to the future, they
lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com
ficient, then they need to have would say okay, Somaliland is
with the president of a long term lease agreement. part of Somalia, and therefore
Kenya, as a softening Otherwise, they will not make we accept the agreement, be-
of the Prime Minister’s the investments; nobody would. cause it’s an agreement between
position. And number five, the reactions Ethiopia and land considered
of many of the countries and part of Somalia. So we will ben-

However, much of the leaders in the region represent efit, Somalia, and will benefit
discussion is just poorly a legacy of the colonial mental- our neighbors. That would be
informed, and not help- ity of who owned what going the most thoughtful, eloquent
ful to the Horn of Africa back many, many years, or de- solution in Somalia to say ‘we
to any of the nations in cades. And they represent what I agree that this will be helpful to
the Horn of Africa: So- would say ignorance in physical all our people.’ Now that that el-
malia, Somaliland, Dji- economics and are dominated oquent solution is not being pur-
bouti, Kenya, Eritrea, by old grudges, rage and anger, sued by Somalia, and Somalia,
Ethiopia. The problem all of which is inappropriate at has made all kinds of threaten-
is the countries are re- this time. If you want to see Af- ing statements, which are really,
acting in a less than in- rica grow, if you want to see the in my view, kind of silly to think
formed manner. If they region grow, if you want to see that Somalia is going to go to
understood physical all the nations of the Horn of war with Ethiopia. It is silly, but
economic growth, they Africa develop and grow, then it also dangerous. And Ethio-
would understand that it’s ABCs. Very easy for me to pia has been defending Somalia
Ethiopia needs multiple see the purpose of having long with its treasure and blood with
port access for its grow- term access to multiple ports. troops in Somalia, going back
ing economy, num- The argument for an access long to the early 2006, and they’re
ber one. Number two, term access to port is valid. And still there. So the idea that you
Ethiopia is the largest we should put aside all his other would be able to mobiliser a
economy in East Afri- commentary and focus on what war against Ethiopia, it’s just
ca and has great deal will help improve the lives of silly, but dangerous. Then you
of potential for growth. Africans living in that region. have other countries coming in,
Number three, this will and aligning themselves, for and
against Ethiopia for and against

ISSUE 26 | APRIL 2024 17