Battle for Berbera: Somaliland’s port draws global powers

HARGEISA, Somaliland (MNTV) –  On the sun-scorched shores of the Red Sea, the once-sleepy port city of Berbera is transforming into one of the most contested maritime hubs on the planet. 

In recent years, Somaliland’s key port has drawn a growing list of foreign suitors, each eager to secure influence over a gateway critical to global shipping lanes.

According to a report by The Africa Report, Somaliland, a self-declared republic still seeking international recognition, has placed Berbera at the center of its economic and diplomatic strategy. 

With shipping routes increasingly vulnerable due to regional instability — from the war in Yemen to piracy threats off the Somali coast — Berbera’s location offers strategic access between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean.

The United Arab Emirates was first to move, investing hundreds of millions through Dubai-based DP World to expand and modernize the port. New cranes rise above the coastline, and fresh docks are already handling larger cargo volumes. But the UAE’s early head start has now triggered a wider scramble.

Ethiopia, heavily reliant on Djibouti for its imports and exports, has shown keen interest in Berbera as an alternative route to the sea. Meanwhile, India, China, and even Russia are reportedly exploring opportunities to establish a presence, either commercially or militarily.

Somaliland’s government views the competition as a golden opportunity. “We welcome investments that respect our sovereignty,” says a senior official in Hargeisa. “Berbera is open for business — but on our terms.”

Yet the port’s rise also fuels regional tensions. The internationally recognized government of Somalia, which claims sovereignty over Somaliland, has protested foreign deals. Neighboring powers watch nervously, fearing Berbera’s militarizSomaliland’s Red Sea port of Berbera emerges as  strategic hotspot, attracting foreign powers vying for influence in the world’s newest shipping battlegroundation could escalate existing rivalries around the Gulf of Aden.

Analysts warn that without careful diplomacy, Berbera could become a flashpoint in an already volatile region. “Ports are the new prize in Africa’s geostrategic competition,” says a maritime security expert. “Berbera is no longer just about Somaliland — it’s about global access and control.”

For Somaliland, the stakes are enormous. Economic revival hinges on turning Berbera into a thriving trade corridor, providing jobs, investment, and, potentially, greater leverage in its long quest for international legitimacy.

As containers stack higher and ships crowd the docks, Berbera is shedding its obscurity. In the great power contest of the 21st century, even the most remote ports are now central to global ambitions.