Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed that his government will continue working to secure access to an international seaport, describing sea access as a strategic necessity for the country’s future development and economic growth.
Speaking during an address marking the beginning of his new term in office, Abiy said Ethiopia would make every effort to secure a reliable route to the sea and would defend what he described as the country’s national interests.
“We will work firmly to ensure that Ethiopia has an entry and exit point to the sea,” he said.
Abiy’s remarks come amid continued regional debate over Ethiopia’s efforts to obtain access to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Landlocked Ethiopia has for years relied heavily on neighboring Djibouti for the bulk of its maritime trade, making alternative access to a seaport a major strategic and economic issue for Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian government’s pursuit of sea access has also been closely linked to its 2024 memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, under which Ethiopia sought long-term access to a coastal area for maritime and commercial purposes.
The agreement triggered strong opposition from Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its territory.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently told Al Jazeera that Somalia does not oppose Ethiopia obtaining access to the sea through Somali territory, but stressed that such an arrangement must be based on dialogue and a formal agreement between the two governments.
He also pointed to three Somali ports that could potentially be developed to serve Ethiopia and its population.
Eritrea, meanwhile, has strongly opposed Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions. Relations between the two neighboring countries remain sensitive, with Eritrea expressing concern over statements and initiatives from Addis Ababa concerning access to the Red Sea.
Eritrea has viewed any attempt to obtain maritime access through coercion or territorial claims as a threat to its sovereignty.
Ethiopia, a country of more than 120 million people, argues that secure and diversified maritime access is important for its economic development and long-term national interests.
However, efforts to achieve that objective remain politically sensitive because of the competing territorial, security and sovereignty concerns of countries along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.