PM Abiy Ahmed Speaks on Regional Cooperation & Ethiopia’s Aspiration for Sea Access

Описание: PM Abiy Ahmed Speaks on Regional Cooperation & Ethiopia’s Aspiration for Sea Access

Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed delivered a wide-ranging address to the country’s Parliament, in which he spoke in depth about the future of the Horn of Africa, regional geopolitical competition, and Ethiopia’s pressing need for access to the sea.

1. The Need for Sea Access and Ethiopia’s Proposals

The Prime Minister compared population size with coastal length among neighboring countries, noting that Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea—together home to around 25 million people—possess a combined coastline of approximately 5,000 kilometers.

He emphasized that Ethiopia, with a population of about 130 million, is seeking only around 50 kilometers of sea access. To achieve this through cooperation, he outlined major proposals Ethiopia is willing to offer in exchange, including:

Granting neighboring countries a 20% share in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD); or

Alternatively, offering a 25% stake in Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline.

2. Neighborly Cooperation and the Jigjiga Visit

Dr. Abiy Ahmed underscored the deep-rooted ties between Ethiopia and its neighbors, based on shared economic interests, culture, and religion. As an example, he cited the recent visit to Jigjiga by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti.

The Prime Minister stated that the discussions demonstrated Somalia and Djibouti’s commitment to not allowing their territories to be used as bases for attacks against Ethiopia. He also pointed to what he described as rival powers competing with Ethiopia in the region, naming Egypt and Eritrea.

3. Geopolitical Competition and Israel

“The Golan Heights are of vital national security importance to Israel; in the same way, the Red Sea is vital to Ethiopia. Just as we share the waters of the Nile River with other countries, we must also share access to the Red Sea with others,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told Parliament.

Finally, Dr. Abiy Ahmed addressed Israel’s growing influence in the Horn of Africa. He explained that Israel’s presence in the region is driven by security and strategic interests linked to the geopolitics of maritime routes, reflecting broader shifts taking place in the sensitive Horn of Africa region.

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