Ethiopia and the Red Sea Are Naturally Inseparable, PM Abiy Says

Addis Ababa, February 4, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia and the Red Sea are naturally inseparable, underscoring that the country’s access to the strategic waterway is inevitable.

Addressing the House of People’s Representatives yesterday, the Prime Minister outlined Ethiopia’s deep historical and geographical links to the Red Sea, describing the relationship as intrinsic and mutually defining. He stressed that denying Ethiopia access to the sea runs counter to natural laws, drawing a parallel between the cycles of human life and the necessity for Ethiopia and the Red Sea to coexist.

He noted that Ethiopia, with a population of about 130 million, requires only around 50 kilometers of coastline, in contrast to the roughly 25 million people living along the combined 5,000 kilometers of coastline in Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access is not driven by militaristic ambitions, but by a commitment to equitable dialogue and shared growth. In this context, he proposed possible pathways for peaceful engagement, including joint investments in projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Ethiopian Airlines, as well as the exploration of land-swap arrangements.

Abiy acknowledged that past conflicts have constrained regional development, but maintained that amicable and mutually beneficial solutions remain achievable. “We must grow together without destroying one another, through agreements and market laws,” he said, reiterating Ethiopia’s determined yet peaceful quest for rightful access to the Red Sea.