ADDIS ABABA- Apart from its significant economic contribution, Ethiopia’s sovereign access to seaports would bring stable political landscape and amicable foreign relations with neighboring states and beyond, according to a Historian.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Wollo University History Instructor and researcher Alemayehu Erkyihun (PhD) said access to the sea would have a broader importance for Ethiopia and would help to ensure enduring stability.
Having seaports should be seen beyond the economic horizon and it is instrumental to prevail stable political landscape, sustainable socio-economic development and nurturing good neighborliness, he added.
“As Ethiopia has been challenged by high cost of living and soaring unemployment, access to seaports would be instrumental to ease such daunting challenges. Also, the sovereign use ports facilitates the country’s import-export trade and create a significant number of jobs for the youth.”
Considering the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa whereby global powers are an intensified race to military bases and the subsequent militarization of the region, Ethiopia’s aspiration to a direct access to the Red Sea is a timely and viable move.
Mentioning the universality of Ethiopia’s port aspiration, Alemayehu called on other countries, particularly the landlocked ones, to back its quest. “Furthermore, those countries, which attain their ambition to sea access peacefully should show the way for Ethiopia to do the same.”
The historian further noted that the Ethiopian government has made commendable job in informing coastal neighbors about how youth unemployment and rapid population growth intensify the country’s demand for seaports. “Not only access to the sea has economic and political implications, but also it is highly intertwined with Ethiopia’s historical identity as the Red Sea and its ports were centers of the country’s civilization.”
He added, “Unquestionably, Ethiopia had been one of the ancient independent civilizations in the world and it was an influential actor in East Africa with strong connection with the then global powers through the Red Sea. A number of countries from Europe, Asia, and South America had firm ties with Ethiopia and this clearly indicated that the latter was solely controlling the Red Sea region.”
Now the fashion to execute political ambition through a military means is changed and the attempt to realize Ethiopia’s port aspiration through force is absolutely wrong. Hence, the government is expected to forge a meticulous diplomatic approach and table a win-win alternative to convince coastal to embrace Ethiopia’s appeal, the academician remarked.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 10 DECEMBER 2023
