Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reiterated that his landlocked nation must secure sovereign access to the Red Sea, despite an ongoing conflict in the country's north that threatens to spiral into a broader regional confrontation. Abiy made the renewed demand on Monday during his swearing-in ceremony for another five-year term in office.

Addressing the Ethiopian Parliament, Abiy asserted that obtaining access to a maritime port is indispensable to the nation's civilisational and economic prospects. “Based on the principle of give and take, we will work diligently to ensure that Ethiopia has an outlet to the sea,” the Prime Minister declared, framing the pursuit of coast access as an existential priority for Addis Ababa.

The remarks come amid severely deteriorating diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and its immediate neighbors. Addis Ababa has openly accused Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan of backing insurgent groups in the northern Tigray region. Clashes between the federal military and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) flared up in August, eroding a fragile three-year-old peace accord that concluded a devastating two-year war.

Coastal neighbors have responded with firm resistance to Ethiopia's maritime ambitions. Representatives from Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia convened in Egypt’s New Alamein, issuing a joint stance affirming that governance of the coastline remains strictly reserved for littoral states. In response, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained that any regional dialogue must acknowledge Addis Ababa’s legitimate historical and economic interests in the Red Sea corridor.

Source: www.aljazeera.com