Addis Ababa, September 23, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s push for direct access to the sea is “understandable from a security perspective,” Eritrean researcher Ali Hindi, an expert in African affairs, told Al Sharq TV, while pointing to the Eritrean regime as the main obstacle.
Hindi said Ethiopia needs a seaport to secure its supply chains and shipping routes, but Eritrea’s prolonged political crisis and reluctance to develop its ports have stalled progress. He criticized Asmara for failing to implement the 2018 peace agreement with Ethiopia, which could have facilitated port cooperation, and described 34 years of Eritrean independence as yielding little development, citing widespread migration and declining population growth as “a catastrophe for any country.”
Commenting on the recent alliance between Eritrea and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Hindi said it appears aimed at undermining Ethiopia. He added that Asmara has exploited historical narratives portraying Ethiopia as a colonizer, while Ethiopian diplomacy has yet to counter these claims effectively.
Regarding the port of Assab, Hindi suggested empowering local communities, particularly the marginalized Afar population, could pave the way for smoother cooperation with Ethiopia. He emphasized that the region’s challenges require diplomacy rather than military action and called on Ethiopia to strengthen strategic alliances and activate diplomatic channels to foster lasting regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia’s position remains consistent. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, speaking at the launch of his fourth book, Medemer State, described the country’s “geographical imprisonment” as temporary and reaffirmed that war is not an option. He said, “We do not believe that war and conflict are necessary to gain access to the sea. That is why we have been patient for five years, and we extend our hands more than ever for dialogue with anyone who wishes to speak with us peacefully and in any forum.”