Abiy Ahmed insists Ethiopia will not go to war over sea access
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated that his government has no intention of invading or attacking neighboring countries while seeking access to a seaport, a move that has heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated that his government has no intention of invading or attacking neighboring countries while seeking access to a seaport, a move that has heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa.
“We have no intention of invading or attacking others, but we won't be ashamed to ask for access to a port. We have no intention of violating or invading the sovereignty of others, but we do call for a discussion on getting access to the sea to conduct business. We don't know what will happen if our demand is not resolved through discussion, negotiation and commercial terms. However, Ethiopia will not fire a single bullet at Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti or Kenya. We do not question their sovereignty.”
These comments were made amidst growing concerns regarding Ethiopia's aspiration to regain sovereign access to the Red Sea, especially through the Eritrean port of Assab.
At a recent event in southern Ethiopia, the prime minister oversaw a parade of special forces. This display was widely perceived as a demonstration of strength towards Eritrea. A banner at the event proclaimed that Ethiopia would not remain landlocked, accompanied by imagery of a soldier breaking through a door towards a port.
“We have no intention of invading or attacking others, but we won't be ashamed to ask for access to a port.
Ethiopia lost its direct sea access when Eritrea became independent in 1993. Currently, the majority of Ethiopian trade is conducted through Djibouti, incurring an estimated annual cost of 1.5 billion dollars.
Previously, Prime Minister Abiy pursued a maritime access deal with Somaliland, which strained relations with Somalia. While that issue has subsided, the focus on Assab has raised concerns about potential conflict with Eritrea. The two nations engaged in a border war that concluded with the 2000 Algiers Agreement. Although Abiy was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for reconciling with Eritrea, relations have since deteriorated.
The International Crisis Group has cautioned that without diplomatic efforts, the rising rhetoric and military actions along the border could lead to a new regional conflict, despite Ethiopia’s emphasis on dialogue as the preferred approach.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
