The Issue of Sea Access for Ethiopia: A Multifaceted Problem 

By Habtamu Kebede

Since Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, Ethiopia has been one of 44 landlocked countries in the world. This is a multifaceted issue, influenced by historical, geographical, and political factors. It continues to be a major hindrance to the country’s economic growth and international trade, and poses a significant risk to national security. As Ethiopia entirely depends on neighboring countries for importing and exporting goods to meet the demands of its rapidly growing population, it is imperative for the country to consider all available options in order to secure a sustainable, stable, and economically viable alternative access to the sea.

However, Ethiopia does not need to violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of neighboring countries in order to access resources or improve its economy. Unfortunately, the current regime, led by Abiy Ahmed, has been disregarding the sovereignty of neighboring countries. Instead of resorting to such actions, the regime should seek peaceful and diplomatic solutions to address its needs. This could include negotiating trade agreements or forming alliances with neighboring countries.

As a signatory of the UN Charter and the host of the African Union, Ethiopia has a responsibility to uphold its international obligations and should not enter into any treaties or agreements with unrecognized separatist states.

The history of Ethiopia is a testament to the fact that the country has never initiated an attack on any of its neighboring nations in order to seize their territory. On the contrary, Ethiopia is renowned for its strong defense against aggressors, both near and far. A notable example of this is the successful defense against the Italian invasion in 1935 and the Somalia invasion of 1977, which effectively preserved Ethiopia’s territorial integrity. It is worth noting that despite being one of the few African countries to sign the United Nations charter, Ethiopia was abandoned and neglected by the organization during the Italian invasion.

The million dollar question is, why is the current Ethiopian regime desperately seeking to flare up regional tensions and violate international norms when peaceful avenues have not been exhaustively explored? The answer is unsurprisingly quite obvious: the regime is simply looking to create conflict in order to distract its citizens from domestic politics and derail them into a larger conflict. By doing so, the regime will have justification to target and attack dissenters, which would be tied to the regime’s power-hungry actions.

The Abiy Ahmed regime is widely disliked and lacks significant public support. As a result, a well-coordinated campaign could potentially overthrow his rule at any given moment. In order to divert attention from domestic issues, the regime consistently incites violence and promotes war. If Abiy Ahmed truly intended to form an alliance for economic benefits and gain access to the sea, negotiations should have taken place between his regime and the government of the Federal Republic of Somalia instead of trying to sneak through the back door and conspiring with a breakaway and unrecognized Somaliland.

Insider information reveals that the Ethiopian regime has reportedly paid individuals to participate in a large rally scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa in the coming days. It is not surprising that the purpose of this rally is to showcase the government’s support base. The government’s supporters have been practicing their talking points and key phrases for the rally, which will likely include denouncing all resistance movements in the country, such as FANO, and labeling them as traitors. They may also accuse these movements of being paid mercenaries recruited by Egypt or other imaginary enemies. However, it is important to note that the current regime, led by Abiy Ahmed, lacks the moral authority to hold any political movement accountable due to its corrupt and oppressive nature.

According to numerous reports by human rights groups and a handful of members of the international media, the regime has been prohibiting the Amhara people from entering Addis Ababa simply because of their ethnicity. And, they have been treated as second and third-class citizens, with many losing their jobs and livelihoods due to their Amhara ethnicity. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and thousands have been targeted, with their homes forcefully demolished. This has left their families exposed to unimaginable suffering, homelessness, and poverty.

Amhara women have been pushed into poverty and have become targets for sexual predators. Many have even been subjected to sexual exploitation and intentionally infected with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.

The Amhara people must not involve themselves in Abiy Ahmed’s deceptive political strategies. In fact, the main perpetrator of the massacres of innocent Amhara people is none other than Abiy Ahmed himself. Therefore, it is crucial for them to distance themselves from his rallies and reject his corrupt and dishonest political tactics. Instead, the Amhara people must remain united in their fight against his corrupt and oppressive regime.

In conclusion, it is undeniable that Ethiopia would greatly benefit from establishing a stable, sustainable, and economically viable access to the sea. As the second most populous country in Africa with a rapidly growing population, this access would open up trade opportunities and boost the country’s economy. However, it is crucial that Ethiopia respects the national integrity of its neighboring countries, such as Somalia, and does not interfere in their affairs. More importantly, any disputes must be resolved through peaceful negotiations and dialogue with these internationally recognized states, rather than resorting to violence.

Thus, It is imperative that we make it clear to Abiy Ahmed, the tyrant of Ethiopia, that his actions of waging war and causing bloodshed are not acceptable and  no lives should be lost in the pursuit of invading neighboring countries. Rather than pursuing a dictatorship and war mongering, Abiy should step down and allow for the establishment of an all-inclusive transitional government.

The use of violence and oppression will only lead to further suffering and division among the people. In contrast, the people urge those who are working for Abiy to reconsider their actions and work towards a democratic future for the benefit of all Ethiopians instead of working for the oppressive regime.