Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently hosted Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa for closed-door talks shrouded in secrecy. While both leaders offered only vague public statements, speculation has centered on a sensitive proposal: Ethiopia’s interest in leasing coastal land near Seylac (Zeila) for a naval outpost. This location, strategically positioned at the meeting point of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, would provide Ethiopia with coveted maritime access. Previous discussions on the matter date back to Abiy’s dealings with former Somali President Farmaajo, but Somaliland resisted due to concerns over the Berbera Port project’s success.