By HAN News Desk
NAIROBI — Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya, General Bacha Debele, has reignited debate in the Horn of Africa by claiming that Asab Port, in southern Eritrea along the Red Sea, “belongs to Ethiopia” and was “unjustly taken away.”
In a recent public statement, General Debele said in Amharic: “Dekedda Asab waa hantideeni, waa khayradkeni oo si qaldan nalloga boobay,” which translates as “The Port of Asab is our property, our resource, and it was wrongfully seized from us.”
The remarks come as Ethiopia increasingly voices frustration over its lack of direct sea access. Since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, following decades of conflict with Addis Ababa, the landlocked country has relied almost entirely on the Port of Djibouti for international trade.
Asab was Ethiopia’s main maritime outlet during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie and later under the Derg regime. Eritrea’s independence left Ethiopia landlocked — a strategic disadvantage for a nation of more than 120 million people and one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea worsened between 1998 and 2000 during a bloody border war that claimed tens of thousands of lives. While a peace agreement in 2018, under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, formally ended hostilities, mistrust and unresolved border issues continue to strain ties.
General Debele’s comments echo remarks by Prime Minister Abiy in late 2023, when he said Ethiopia must secure “fair and lawful access” to the Red Sea to safeguard its economic future. His words drew concern from neighbouring countries, including Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia, which warned that such statements could destabilize the fragile region.
Analysts suggest that Ambassador Debele’s statement reflects growing frustration within Ethiopia’s leadership over its dependency on Djibouti and the high costs of port access. Some experts warn, however, that rhetoric suggesting territorial claims could provoke diplomatic tensions with Eritrea, which maintains strict control over its Red Sea coastline.
The Eritrean government has yet to respond officially, though several commentators on social media have condemned the statement as “provocative” and “a return to expansionist thinking.”
Regional observers say the remarks could complicate Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen economic and security cooperation with its neighbours, as the Horn of Africa continues to face political instability, conflict, and climate-related crises.
Horn of Africa political analyst Dr. Mebratu Tesfaye told the BBC: “The issue of Asab remains one of the most sensitive topics in the region. While Ethiopia’s need for sea access is legitimate, any suggestion of reclaiming Eritrean territory risks reopening old wounds and destabilising the region.”
For now, the ambassador’s comments have reignited a delicate debate, highlighting how unresolved historical disputes continue to shape the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa.
