In a recent address to parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized Ethiopia’s steadfast desire to secure access to the Red Sea through non-violent means. He declared, “We do not aim to achieve this through conflict or aggression,” and asserted that Ethiopia is entitled to such access “based on international law and the experiences of other nations.”
PM Abiy stated, “Ethiopia’s national interest in accessing the Red Sea is unwavering. The international community must understand that our pursuit of this goal will be through peaceful channels.” He reinforced the idea that Ethiopia will not hesitate to pursue this objective, insisting, “If we don’t realize it now, our children will,” calling the ambition both “just and rational.”
Addressing the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Somaliland, which seeks to provide Ethiopia with sea access while acknowledging Somaliland’s status, Abiy clarified that attempts to depict the agreement as an appropriation of Somali territory were misleading. He pointed out that Ethiopia initially sought a 99-year lease but ultimately settled on a 50-year term to accommodate Somaliland’s preference, questioning, “How is a 50-year lease equivalent to stealing land?”
Highlighting Ethiopia’s connections with Somalia, Abiy noted, “Ethiopia has the second-largest Somali population after Somalia; they are our kin, and we harbor no ill intentions toward Somalia.”
Tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia have escalated since the MoU with Somaliland, which Somalia views as a threat to its territorial claims. Somalia condemned the agreement as a violation of its sovereignty, leading to the expulsion of Ethiopia’s ambassador and the withdrawal of Somalia’s envoy from Addis Ababa. Additionally, Somalia has cut Ethiopia from AU-led forces replacing the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and entered a military cooperation agreement with Egypt, which includes military support for Somalia.
In light of these developments, a recent summit in Asmara saw Somalia, Egypt, and Eritrea convene to discuss strengthening Somalia’s defense capabilities for protecting its territorial waters and land.
During his address, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assured lawmakers that Ethiopia has shown patience towards Somalia, allowing it the opportunity to “reconsider and prioritize its national interests.” He affirmed that Ethiopia would “remain patient” as tensions unfold.
Addressing fears of potential conflict over Ethiopia’s Red Sea ambitions, he reassured, “Some may speculate that a war is imminent, but let me be clear: we do not seek conflict with anyone; war is not in our interests.”
When discussing potential external threats, Abiy confidently stated, “No force can invade Ethiopia,” asserting that the country possesses “sufficient resources to ensure its defense.” He concluded by affirming, “We have dedicated citizens, and while we do not provoke others, we will not shy away from defending ourselves if provoked.”
