Since late 2023 when Prime Minister Abiy reignited calls for sovereign Ethiopian access to a Red Sea port
Saturday, July 5, 2025-HAN
Source: Chimpreports.com
ADDIS ABABA | Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has issued a pointed warning to neighbouring Eritrea, signalling that while Addis Ababa remains committed to peaceful regional cooperation, it will not hesitate to defend its sovereignty if provoked.
In a national statement addressing Ethiopia’s relations with neighbouring states, Abiy emphasized the country’s preference for diplomacy and mutual benefit over confrontation.
“Our pursuit of port access is rooted in peaceful negotiation and respect for sovereignty, not force,” he said, alluding to Ethiopia’s increasing demand for access to the Red Sea amid rapid economic and population growth.
The Prime Minister described Ethiopia as a “sovereign nation with a large economy, a growing population, and a capable, modern army,” insisting that despite unresolved issues with some neighbours, the country has not engaged in war over the past seven years.
“We do not seek confrontation with Eritrea or any other country—and expect the same in return,” he added.
While the message was framed as a call for cooperation, it also carried a thinly veiled warning: “If our peace is threatened, Ethiopia has the strength to defend itself.”
Rising Frictions
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have simmered since late 2023 when Prime Minister Abiy reignited calls for sovereign Ethiopian access to a Red Sea port.
Though Ethiopia is landlocked, it has long relied on Djibouti for maritime trade, accounting for over 95% of its import-export traffic.
However, Ethiopian officials have increasingly described this arrangement as unsustainable for a country of over 120 million people.
Eritrea, which possesses a long Red Sea coastline and several underutilized ports like Assab and Massawa, has staunchly rejected suggestions that Ethiopia should be granted sovereign port access through Eritrean territory.
The rhetoric from Asmara has been firm, warning against what it sees as attempts to redraw regional boundaries under economic pretexts.
A Fragile Peace
The recent warning comes against the backdrop of an uneasy détente between the two countries.
Though Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace deal in 2018, ending two decades of official hostilities following the 1998–2000 border war, trust has remained fragile.
Eritrea backed Ethiopian federal forces during the Tigray war (2020–2022), but relations have cooled since its conclusion.
Eritrean forces reportedly remained in border areas after hostilities ceased, and both governments have offered divergent narratives about their future cooperation.
Ethiopian analysts say Abiy’s remarks reflect both domestic and regional pressures.
“Ethiopia is trying to assert itself as a dominant economic and military power in the Horn of Africa,” said a senior regional analyst in Addis Ababa.
“But the port issue is extremely sensitive—especially for Eritrea, which views any concession as a threat to its sovereignty.”
The Horn of Africa remains one of the most volatile regions on the continent, with simmering conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen just across the Red Sea.
Ethiopia’s positioning as a peaceful but powerful regional actor may be aimed at reassuring allies while deterring rivals.
“Our vision is one of shared progress and stability,” Abiy said, framing Ethiopia’s ambitions within a cooperative regional framework.
