Uzbekistan is a double-land- locked country in Central Asia with a population of 36 million. It is at the will of two countries at the same time in one direction that this country gets access to the Sea. The nearest Sea or ocean is 1174 km from Uzbekistan on average.
Another Central Asian Country which is land locked is Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz territory is the most distant place on planet Earth from international sea. It is 1585 km away from an international sea.
But Ethiopia is a land-locked country which is only less than 60 km from Red Sea. And, it is land-locked for only three decades and three years. In the second decade of those years the country had fought abitter war with Eritrea. It had a wide chance of regaining Assab as a result of the war by the time. But the then government of Ethiopia didn’t claim it. Even at Eritrean independence in 1991, Ethiopia had lost a chance of retaining Assab which had population predominantly of the remaining Ethiopia at the time.
In his book Assab Yemanat? /Whose Territory Is Assab? / Yakob Haile-Mariam (PhD) confirmed that Assab belongs to Ethiopia. He said that Assab is Ethiopia`s natural sea port. He as well stressed Djibouti doesn’t replace Assab.
In the seventeen years prior to EPRDF government, Assab was one of the five self-governing regions of Ethiopia the others being, Eritrea before its session, Tigray, Diredawa and Ogaden.
Even though Ethiopia and Eritrea had signed Algiers Agreement, they hadn’t clearly demarcated their common border. The process and result of the demarcation can regain Assab for Ethiopia in the same way as Poland has gained access to the International Sea, i.e. via Baltic Sea as a consequence of the First World War. Thanks to that the country is not land-locked now; even though there are some controversies in it.
Contrary to this fact, the Latin American Country Bolivia arm-in-arm with Peru fought a bitter war against their neighbour Chile in 1879. As a result of this Bolivia lost some of its territory for Chile including its Pacific Ocean outlet. Bolivia still is a land-locked country.
The most populus land-locked country in the world is Ethiopia. The country needs access to the international trade route on sea or ocean to feed its 125 million or so population and bring about economic and social development. It shall not be suppressed like that of Bolivia. It shall be supported like that of Poland.
Why?
As a land-locked country, it is facing high transport costs. Its exports and imports may get sluggish based on its good neighbours though they cooperate based on “rules and regulations”. As it is said earlier, some of its imports and exports depend on the good wills of neighbouring countries as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzistan or our very own neighbour South Sudan, Uganda or other landlocked countries faced.
As sons and daughters of patriots, we remember everything that our good neighbours blocked imports of weapons of survival for Imperial Ethiopia to appease Fascist Italy during the Second World War.
Ethiopia`s fast growing economy needs swift port logistics support of its own. It also needs strategic international trade route in relations with this. The country also needs to have efficient navy to combat global and regional terrorists for regional and global peace and security.
Everyone knows that Ethiopia is currently using port Djibouti for more than three decades regularly. It is not for free. The country pays port rent, Demurrage etc. in forex.
In recent weeks, Djibouti offered Ethiopia to “develop and use” a port on its sea coast. We also remember that Kenya and Ethiopia have signed an agreement while the late Meles Zenawi was Prime Minister; for the later to handle its exports and imports through Port Lamu. South Sudan also included in this accord as far as this writer remembers.
Just last year, Somaliland has offered 20 km of its sea coast at the Gulf of Aden around Berbera to be developed and used by Ethiopia. Berbera is about 250 km from the border of Ethiopia. And Port Lamu is 900 km away from its nearest Ethiopian border according to Google map.
Just recently, Ethiopia and Somalia have signed Ankara Agreement. The result of which is not known for securing a port.
Bringing all the realities mentioned and not mentioned above together, Port Assab is the best preferable solution for Ethiopia to access international trade route and strong navy.
To conclude, the issue of Ethiopia having an international sea coast is a burning issue. This burning issue shouldn’t be the homework of the ruling Prosperity Party only. It has to be the issue of all Ethiopians Opposition/ Competitive parties included.
BY MELKAMU TEKLE
(Melkamutekle@gmail.com)
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2025
