Berbera

"The USA is not stupid. They know who they need to deal with when it comes to Berbera port," the minister told Reuters.

Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland has rejected an attempt by the central government to give the US exclusive control of a port and airbase in Berbera.

The Red Sea port of Berbera, whether you see it as part of Somaliland or Somalia, has much to offer as an alternative.

The UAE has heavily invested in Somaliland’s Berbera port and holds significant influence over Ethiopia because of its investments there.

Ports such as Massawa, Port Sudan and Berbera in the Horn of Africa have also become ghost towns, while traffic through the Suez Canal is now so light that Egypt, which collects transit tolls, is suffering significant economic damage.