Prime Minister Abiy (PhD) has recently emphasized the urgent need for Ethiopia to get access to ports on the Red Sea through negotiations. And several experts are also asserting the appropriateness of Ethiopia’s quest for alternative ports. They say Ethiopia should engage with other nations in the area to ensure its access to the ports and be able to overcome geostrategic impediments in this respect. The Premier said that his government is considering all possible options, offering resources to be shared with port owners in the Horn of Africa. Indeed, the population and economy are growing fast, the demand to diversify port alternatives is natural and needful for the country.
Appropriately, Ethiopia has been in constant endeavors to own sea access; the nation’s pursuit to the ports is the proper measure as the long coastline owned by neighboring countries has still been unexploited. Consequently, for the port owners’ across the Horn, cooperation with Ethiopia is indisputably the great option that maximizes their benefits. Provided that Ethiopia remains without access to the sea, it will continue to be dependent on others; this may even threaten its national security. Access to the sea is not only a matter of service or commercial port, the issue of securing sovereignty.
These days, Ethiopia is using the Djibouti ports for most import-export goods. Using this port as the only major route may not assure the future as Ethiopia’s population and economy are rising. For instance, it is expected that the population will hit 150 million in 2030 (now 120 million population) which affirms the urgent need for the alternative port. Owning access to ports is becoming a matter of survival for an alarmingly increasing population. Hence, discussing the port issue should not be politicized; even the neighboring countries that have access to the sea should show cooperation in this regard to benefit from Ethiopia that has a great potential to benefit them. Indeed, it is hoped that these countries will complement this offer that accelerates win-win approach and allow Ethiopia to use their ports.
Most importantly, Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is a reasonable measure that has not violated any of the agreements that the country has so far signed with its coastal neighbors. Justly, international laws accommodate issues of access to the sea and national security, as well as port ownership of populous countries. Hence, the neighboring nations should consider Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access as a legitimate request. It is certain that the Ethiopian government is claiming the right thing and its intention is to grow together with the neighboring countries.
In short, in light of its ever-growing population, Ethiopia’s quest for a sea port is undeniably justifiable given its landlocked geographical position and the potential benefits that would be gained from these ports. If the nation could not secure its quest for the ports soon, it undeniably faces significant challenges in terms of importing and exporting goods that can meet the rising demand of the growing population. Hence, seeking access to a sea port is a logical step for the country to enhance its economic growth and regional integration besides securing the survival of its people. Likewise, the neighboring nations ought to realize that access to the sea is not a mere luxury but a matter of utmost significance for Ethiopia’s existence.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER 2023
