Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has renewed his call for the landlocked nation to secure direct access to the Red Sea, framing such a connection as vital to the country’s civilization. Speaking during his swearing-in ceremony for a new five-year term on Monday, Abiy emphasized that his government would pursue this goal through the principle of give and take, aiming to establish a viable maritime outlet. According to repeating previous assertions, Abiy, In a speech in Parliament that the country would work to secure a port on the Red Sea, saying that access was critical to Ethiopia’s “civilisation”.
The push comes as diplomatic friction grows between Addis Ababa and its neighbors. Ethiopia has been embroiled in internal conflicts, including renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region, and has accused regional powers like Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of backing opposition forces. Simultaneously, longstanding disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have intensified regional anxieties regarding water security.
Regional response to the maritime demand has been cautious. Leaders from Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia convened in New Alamein, Egypt, on Sunday to discuss collective security. In a joint declaration, they asserted that the management of the Red Sea is the exclusive prerogative of coastal states and cautioned against any actions that might jeopardize the water usage rights of Nile-dependent nations like Egypt and Sudan.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry countered these sentiments the following day, stating that any dialogue concerning the Red Sea must acknowledge the country’s legitimate historical interests and enduring ties to the region. Following his re-election, Abiy received congratulatory messages from several regional leaders, including Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, also expressed support for deepening relations. While Somalia has historically been cautious, President Mohamud previously indicated that his government would be open to formal negotiations regarding Ethiopian access to the sea via Somali territory. Ethiopia has been without direct maritime access since 1993, when Eritrea gained independence after breaking away from the country. According to “I look forward to working closely together to strengthen Somalia-Ethiopia relations & advance peace, stability & shared prosperity for our peoples & the Horn of Africa,” he, In a post on X. According to mohamud had previously, Somalia did not object to Ethiopia gaining access to the Red Sea through Somali territory but added that the two countries would need to officially negotiate.