Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed renews demand for Red Sea access as tensions with Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan and Somalia intensify across the region.
Abiy Demands Red Sea Access as Regional Tensions Rise
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has renewed his call for access to the Red Sea, saying the landlocked country must secure an outlet to the sea despite growing tensions with several neighbouring states.
Abiy made the remarks during his swearing-in ceremony for another five-year term. In a speech to Parliament, he said Ethiopia would continue working to obtain access to a port on the Red Sea, describing maritime access as an important issue for the country’s future and development.
“Based on the principle of give and take, we will work diligently to ensure that Ethiopia has an outlet to the sea,” Abiy said.
The issue of Red Sea access has become increasingly important in Ethiopian foreign policy. Ethiopia lost its direct access to the Red Sea in 1993, when Eritrea became an independent country. Since then, Ethiopia has relied heavily on neighbouring countries, particularly Djibouti, for much of its international trade.
With one of Africa’s largest populations and a growing economy, Ethiopia considers reliable access to ports essential for trade, investment and long-term economic development. Addis Ababa has repeatedly argued that its landlocked status creates significant economic and strategic challenges.
However, Ethiopia’s push for Red Sea access has raised concerns among neighbouring countries, particularly Eritrea. Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have deteriorated in recent months, with both sides accusing each other of actions that threaten regional stability.
Eritrea has expressed concern that Ethiopia could attempt to obtain access to the Red Sea through Eritrean territory. Ethiopia, meanwhile, has accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting opposition forces in the northern Tigray region amid a renewed escalation in fighting.
The dispute over access to the Red Sea is also connected to wider geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s relations with Egypt and Sudan have been strained for years because of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a major hydroelectric project on the Nile River.
Egypt and Sudan depend heavily on the Nile for water supplies and have raised concerns about the impact of the dam on downstream water resources. Ethiopia maintains that the project is vital for its economic development and electricity generation.
The latest tensions have also brought Somalia into the regional discussion. Leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia recently met in Egypt and called for greater cooperation on regional issues.
The four countries stated that responsibility for the governance and security of the Red Sea belongs to the countries that border its shores. They also rejected actions that could affect Egypt and Sudan’s access to Nile waters.
Ethiopia responded by saying that any discussion about the Red Sea should take into account what it described as the country’s legitimate interests and longstanding connection to the strategic waterway.
Despite the disagreements, Ethiopia and Somalia have continued to maintain diplomatic contacts. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud congratulated Abiy on his renewed mandate and expressed hope that the two countries could strengthen bilateral relations and promote peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia has previously indicated that it would not necessarily oppose Ethiopia obtaining Red Sea access through Somali territory, but any such arrangement would need to be negotiated formally between the two governments.
The issue is particularly sensitive because the Horn of Africa is already facing several overlapping security and political challenges. Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Egypt all have strategic interests linked to the Red Sea, the Nile River and regional trade routes.
For Ethiopia, securing dependable maritime access could reduce its dependence on foreign ports and strengthen its economic position. For coastal states, however, any move involving territorial rights, military arrangements or control of strategic waterways could have wider security implications.
Abiy’s renewed demand therefore comes at a time when the Horn of Africa is experiencing significant diplomatic and security pressure. Whether Ethiopia can reach a negotiated agreement for Red Sea access without further worsening relations with its neighbours is likely to remain a major regional issue in the coming years.
