Addis Ababa, September 17, 2025 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reiterated Ethiopia’s determination to secure access to the sea peacefully and in line with international law, stressing that the country can no longer remain a “geographical prisoner.”
Speaking at the inauguration of his fourth book Medemer State at the Addis Ababa Convention Center, the Prime Minister underscored that Ethiopia’s quest for access is not about war but about rights, development, and the future of coming generations.
“We don’t believe that war and conflict are necessary to achieve this. That is why we have been waiting in patience for five years,” he said.
Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia is extending its hands “more than ever” to engage in dialogue with all parties willing to discuss the matter peacefully. “We believe this issue must be settled through peaceful means, based on international law. We cannot think of a country the size of Ethiopia to remain closed and hand over this status quo to the next generation,” he declared.
He described the reluctance to pursue access as a form of psychological fracture and urged Ethiopians to build solidarity around this national cause. “We cannot bequeath imprisonment to our children,” he noted.
The Prime Minister also framed access to the sea as central to Ethiopia’s wider struggle against poverty, declaring: “Ethiopia gives priority to peace and fiercely fights against poverty—securing a gateway to the sea will be inevitable.”
He called on citizens to unite behind this effort, saying adversaries often exploit Ethiopia’s internal divisions, but the Medemer (synergy) philosophy offers a cure to these fractures.
Citing history, Prime Minister Abiy reminded that Ethiopia’s unity has long alarmed its adversaries.
He envisioned a future where Ethiopians, united across ethnic lines, could “move faster and leapfrog towards national aspirations.”
Painting a bold picture of Ethiopia’s potential, the Prime Minister expressed his dream of seeing the country transformed into a donor nation: “My vision is that one day, the Ethiopian parliament will debate not about receiving aid, but about how much billions of birr to allocate as assistance to our Eastern African neighbors.”
The launch of Medemer State provided the context for these remarks, with Abiy presenting the book as a roadmap for Ethiopia’s national transformation, grounded in unity, peace, and a pragmatic vision for prosperity.