Ethiopia struggles to access lost Red Sea
Ethiopia has a long historical connection to the Red Sea, which Professor Ahmed Zekaria emphasizes as deeply rooted in its identity and disrupted but never severed.
Ethiopia lost direct access to the sea in 1993 after Eritrea’s independence, creating a longstanding dispute over maritime access.
Ethiopia has underscored the need for pragmatic and cooperative approaches to regain Red Sea access, relying on its historical role in peacekeeping and its strategic interests.
Ethiopia has recently requested international mediation from various actors, including Russia, the European Union, China, and the United States, to resolve the dispute with Eritrea peacefully and avoid conflict.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has deeply expressed that Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea is irreversible and requires calm, thoughtful legal and historical consideration.
Russia is viewed as a natural mediator given its longstanding relationship with Ethiopia spanning over 130 years, its historical understanding of Ethiopia’s internal challenges, and its recent diplomatic engagement in related regional disputes.
While Russia has offered technical assistance and engaged diplomatically in disputes like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue, it has so far adopted a balancing stance, refraining from direct mediation but maintaining close relations with Ethiopia.
Russia’s deep understanding of Ethiopia and its historical involvement in the region make it well-suited to mediate discussions over Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea if it chooses to engage more actively in this role.
Ethiopia welcomes Russia’s involvement in facilitating a peaceful, reliable solution to the dispute with Eritrea over maritime access, as part of a broader approach involving multiple international partners acting as mediators.
Ethiopia’s demand for Red Sea access is historically justified and strategically critical.
Russia’s unique historical ties and understanding of Ethiopia position it as a credible and potentially effective mediator in ongoing negotiations over this dispute, alongside other international actors like China, the EU, and the US. Ethiopia seeks a peaceful resolution through international mediation to secure its maritime interests while maintaining regional stability.
