Experts state that Ethiopia must seek a legal response to its sea access claim through arbitration and negotiation. They emphasize the claim's natural and legal basis while advocating peaceful solutions. The government needs to give more attention to the issue, they add.
In Addis Ababa, Political Science and International Relations expert Prof. Bruck Haylu told Fana Media Corporation that Ethiopia, landlocked for thousands of years, briefly accessed the sea only in a 30-year short history. Past governments made broad trade concessions in every agreement, he noted.
"Ethiopia, the former owner of the Red Sea, will not return to it," he said, adding that to resolve the sea access claim, they have strengthened their peaceful stance. The issue is not related to IGAD; it was dragged to the wrong forum in a confusing situation. During the war, the lack of mental preparedness was from our high level, he stated.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly responded to the question by saying we will work hand in hand, jointly, through arbitration. However, the government is not giving enough attention to the issue, he noted. "No one is above Ethiopians to protect the national interest," he added. Countries on the Red Sea benefit from thousands of kilometers; consequently, we must work to protect our national interest, he said.
International Natural Resources and Environmental Law expert Dr. Abebe Kifede stated that the emerging sea access claim is natural and legal. Past governments are undertaking works to correct the mistakes they made. The work to adopt new approaches is yielding results, he explained. Practical steps to resolve the sea access claim are being taken, he noted.
"The path of development, growth, and progress requires multiple paths," he said, adding that we must correct the committed mistakes and resolve our claim. By creating access routes to the sea, it will protect future joint development and growth, he concluded.