Khaberni - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed that his country will not remain landlocked, indicating that Ethiopia's access to the Red Sea is inevitable and existential for it.
He added in today's statements that Addis Ababa does not seek war but is capable of concluding it if imposed upon, warning Eritrea against getting dragged into a military confrontation amid rising tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Abiy Ahmed also mentioned that his country is ready to head to Asmara to turn a new page in bilateral relations, emphasizing that peace is Ethiopia's preferred option, but its right to access ports is non-negotiable.
"Mediation" to find a "peaceful solution"
In this context, the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that he has requested "mediation," especially from the United States and the European Union, to find a "peaceful solution" with Eritrea that ensures his country's access to the sea.
Abiy Ahmed has for months emphasized the necessity for his country to have a seaport, and Asmara accuses Ethiopian authorities of eyeing the Eritrean port of Assab.
Replying to questions from lawmakers in Parliament, the Ethiopian Prime Minister said, "We have no intention of going to war with Eritrea; on the contrary, we are convinced that this issue can be resolved peacefully."
Abiy Ahmed, who has been in power since 2018, clarified that he held talks with representatives from the United States, Russia, China, the African Union, and the European Union, adding that Ethiopia's demand for access to the sea is "irreversible."
He added that Ethiopia has requested the mediation of these countries to "find a lasting solution" with Eritrea.
Tensions between the two countries
The announcement by the Ethiopian Prime Minister comes amid tensions between the two Horn of Africa countries, fueling fears of a new war.
Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa, with 130 million people, but has been landlocked since Eritrea's independence in 1993.
Ethiopia and Eritrea faced each other in a bloody war that killed tens of thousands between 1998 and 2000 due to border disputes.
The relationship between the two countries improved in 2018 with Abiy Ahmed taking power and signing a peace agreement with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea with an iron fist since 1993.
However, tensions flared once again in 2022 following the end of the war in Tigray, which claimed at least 600,000 lives, during which the Eritrean army supported Ethiopian forces against the rebels in the northern region.
In October, Ethiopia accused its neighbor Eritrea of financing armed groups fighting its federal forces, particularly in the Amhara region, and of intervening and attempting to destabilize and "colluding", a claim that Asmara denied, considering it a "false farce".
