Abiy Ahmed: Ethiopia Seeks Sea Access, Not War

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that thousands of Ethiopian soldiers have died in Somalia fighting against Al-Shabaab, highlighting Ethiopia’s sacrifices for peace in the region. “There is no one who has died for Somalia that is not Ethiopian,” Abiy declared during a session of the Ethiopian Parliament.

In addressing concerns over potential hostilities with Somalia, Abiy clarified that Ethiopia harbors no intentions of waging war against its neighbor. “We do not have any intention to harm Somalia… We hope to see Ethiopia benefiting from Somalia and both countries prospering,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s comments come in the wake of his defense of an agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which has led to tensions with the Somali government. Abiy expressed Ethiopia’s openness to dialogue based on mutual benefit, emphasizing the country’s readiness to engage with all parties interested in a ‘give and take’ principle.

This discussion occurs shortly after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called for negotiations with Ethiopia, contingent on the withdrawal of its agreement with Somaliland. Abiy also highlighted the presence of a significant Somali community in Ethiopia and the mutual benefits of shared resources, such as the rivers originating in Ethiopia that contribute to Somalia’s agricultural output, as evidence of the intertwined futures of the two nations.

GAROWE ONLINE