Ethiopia’s Red Sea Quest Marks New Era of Regional Balance, Says Ethiopian Analyst
Ethiopia’s Red Sea Quest Marks New Era of Regional Balance, Says Ethiopian Analyst
PM Abiy Ahmed declared on Tuesday that “Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea is inevitable.” Dereje Haile, an Ethiopian analyst from Selale University, explained that the issue has resurfaced because “Ethiopia lost the Red Sea by man-made factors, not natural ones.”
He told Sputnik Africa that the country has a “historical and legal right to access the sea” under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, adding that Ethiopia’s fast-growing economy has made the pursuit of maritime access both urgent and strategic.
On mediation efforts, Dereje noted that “Russia may play as a neutral mediator between Ethiopia and Eritrea” to facilitate peaceful dialogue and mutual development.
Echoing Abiy Ahmed’s stance, he emphasized that Ethiopia “has no intention to invade Eritrea” and will rely on diplomacy, regional cooperation, and dialogue through IGAD and bilateral talks.
Dereje concluded that achieving sustainable access to the sea could “bring about a new era in Ethiopia’s history,” enhancing economic integration, regional peace, and Ethiopia’s diplomatic influence around the Red Sea.
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