Ethiopia to pursue sea access through legal, peaceful means – PM Abiy Ahmed

ADDIS ABABA, June 9, 2025 – Ethiopia will continue to intensify its efforts to gain access to the sea through legal frameworks and diplomatic dialogue, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in an interview broadcast Monday.

Speaking to the state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), Abiy said Ethiopia’s push for sea access is a longstanding national concern, not a new agenda. The country, which has been landlocked since Eritrea's independence in 1993, has faced significant economic and logistical challenges due to its lack of direct maritime access, he noted.

“We regret the way we lost access to a port,” Abiy said, referring to Ethiopia’s loss of a coastline after Eritrea’s secession more than three decades ago.

The prime minister emphasized that the treatment of Ethiopia, in light of international norms regarding landlocked countries, has been unjust. “Clear injustices have been committed against Ethiopia, and this needs to be addressed urgently,” he said.

Abiy reiterated Ethiopia’s firm position on the issue, first publicly stated during a parliamentary session in October 2024, where he said Ethiopia would seek access to the Red Sea through peaceful means.

“With an economy serving 120 million people and surrounded by waters, Ethiopia deserves access to the sea,” he said. “Our quest is legitimate and fair.”

Ethiopia currently relies heavily on the port of Djibouti for over 90% of its international trade, but has increasingly expressed its intent to explore alternative maritime access through regional partnerships and negotiations.

GAROWE ONLINE