Djibouti has signaled its willingness to help address Ethiopia's needs for access to a critical Red Sea port, pointing to the East African nation's existing hospitality towards Ethiopia's navy as evidence of its open and cooperative approach. According to a report by Bloomberg, Djiboutian officials stated the country is ready to assist Ethiopia in securing use of a vital port, noting it already hosts units of the Ethiopian naval forces within its borders.
The news comes in the wake of Somalia's rejection of Ethiopia's appeal for negotiations regarding port access.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently voiced his apprehension, warning that the lack of direct harbor access poses a potential threat of future conflicts. Abiy emphasized the need to address this issue promptly to ensure regional stability. Following Eritrea's independence in 1993, Ethiopia lost its direct sea access after a grueling three-decade war.
While Somalia remains committed to promoting peace, security, trade, and integration, it firmly declined to grant access to a strategic asset like a port, according to Ali Omar, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a text message. Omar stressed that Somalia's constitution enshrines the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, leaving no room for discussion.
During a televised lecture on October 13th, Abiy asserted Ethiopia's "natural rights" to have direct access to the Red Sea. He warned that any denial of these rights would undermine fairness and justice. In a possible solution, Abiy suggested that his government could offer shares in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in exchange for similar stakes in ports of neighboring countries.
"We will fight," Abiy said.
In response, Eritrea called the debate over Ethiopia's renewed interest to get an access to the sea "excessive," causing bewilderment among concerned observers.
Alexis Mohamed, a senior adviser to Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, told Bloomberg that Abiy's stance has been long-standing but is now being expressed more assertively.
Mohamed stated that Djibouti would patiently wait for Ethiopia to propose a peaceful means of accessing the Red Sea. He emphasized Djibouti's longstanding openness to fostering positive relations with neighboring countries, particularly Ethiopia.
Mohamed also highlighted Djibouti's willingness to accommodate Ethiopia's navy, further indicating its cooperative approach.
(Note: The content of this news article has been rewritten based on information from Bloomberg. The lead paragraph and relevant sections have been credited to Bloomberg.)
