Ethiopia has an “unwavering interest” in gaining access to the Red Sea and aims to pursue this objective through “peaceful means,” the East African nation’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has said.
Abiy’s comment on Thursday comes as relations between his country and neighboring Somalia have deteriorated over an agreement Addis Ababa signed with breakaway Somaliland to lease its coastline for commercial purposes and to build a naval base.
Somalia, which considers Somaliland its own territory despite the province declaring independence in 1991, has denounced the January 1 pact as “illegal” and a land grab.
Earlier this week, the Somali government declared an Ethiopian diplomat persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 72 hours for engaging in “activities incompatible with his diplomatic role.”
It previously expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador from Mogadishu and has threatened to kick out thousands of Ethiopian soldiers fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia if the maritime agreement is not revoked.
The Somali authorities have warned that the Arab League state is prepared to go to war to prevent Ethiopia from recognizing Somaliland’s independence in exchange for 20km of coastline.
Speaking to lawmakers on Thursday about concerns sparked by the maritime deal, Abiy said that while Addis Ababa remains committed to acquiring access to the Red Sea, it will not “seek it through war or force.”
“We seek access to the Red Sea in a peaceful manner, as is fitting for a nation of our size and growing economy,” he stated, according to state-owned broadcaster ENA.
“Our agenda is not about confrontation but about ensuring economic growth and benefiting the Ethiopian people. Our approach is one of shared prosperity and respect for our neighbors,” the Ethiopian leader said.
Africa’s second-most populous state has relied on the port of Djibouti for more than 85% of its exports and imports since it became landlocked following Eritrea’s secession in 1991.
Abiy has argued that having direct access to the sea is a necessity rather than a luxury for Ethiopia’s growing population. Last year, he said the government is “committed to mutual interests through dialogue and negotiation.”
“With this extensive coastline within our neighborhood, we see a wealth of opportunities for trade and cooperation that can uplift not only Ethiopia but the entire region,” he told the Ethiopian Parliament on Thursday.