Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reaffirmed on Monday his country’s desire to gain access to the sea through peaceful means, based on dialogue, reciprocity and mutual benefits with neighboring states.
Speaking before a joint session of Parliament on the occasion of the installation of the new government, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
has made Ethiopia’s maritime access one of its foreign policy priorities for the coming years.
« Ethiopian civilization cannot be fully realized without an outlet to the sea, » he said, assuring that his government would work « with determination, in a spirit of reciprocity« , to guarantee the country port access.
The head of government stressed that Ethiopia’s geographical position was both an opportunity and a vulnerability, calling for strengthening the country’s economic, political and military capabilities so that it could defend its interests and have more weight on its regional environment.
According to him, the loss of access to the sea and the decline in Ethiopian regional influence must be analyzed in the light of the geopolitical developments that have marked the country and the region.
« When we were strong, we decided our own affairs; when we weakened, others decided for us, » he said.
Abiy Ahmed presented the next five years as a period of consolidation of internal reforms and preparation of Ethiopia for a geopolitical context that he considers increasingly unstable.
In terms of security, he announced the continued modernization of defense forces and the strengthening of their operational capabilities, including the ambition to increase Ethiopia’s air superiority in the region.
The Prime Minister also announced constitutional reforms based on the conclusions of the recently completed National Dialogue. He promised to strengthen cooperation with opposition parties and called on armed groups to abandon violence in favor of peaceful political participation.
