Ethiopia Renews Unyielding Push for Sea Access, Calling It a “National Necessity”

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia has reiterated that securing access to a seaport is a national necessity crucial for strengthening regional cooperation, boosting economic growth, and ensuring stability in the Horn of Africa, according to a new government-backed report.

The report, presented by officials and allied experts, argues that Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is grounded in international law, historical justice, and principles of cooperative engagement.

Government officials said the country — now home to more than 120 million people — requires a maritime outlet to protect its national interests, accelerate economic development, and contribute to regional stability.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose remarks were included in the report, said Ethiopia’s demand for a seaport has legal, historical, geographic, and economic foundations. He added that diplomatic efforts to secure access will continue.

Officials and experts aligned with the government, including Tilahun Tefera of the Ethiopian Political Studies Institute, described the loss of Ethiopia’s coastline as a historical injustice that must be corrected. He urged scholars, media professionals, diplomats, and the Ethiopian diaspora to fully support the country’s seaport ambition.

Gashaw Ayferam of the Institute of Foreign Affairs said Ethiopia’s loss of direct sea access was the result of external pressure and internal weakness. He stressed that regaining a maritime corridor remains a non-negotiable national priority for Addis Ababa.

GAROWE ONLINE