Ethiopia’s president said on Monday that securing access to the sea is a matter of sovereignty and historical justice for the landlocked Horn of Africa nation, linking the goal to the legacy of the country’s 1896 victory at the Battle of Adwa.
Speaking at celebrations in the capital city of Addis Ababa marking the 130th anniversary of the defeat of Italian colonial forces at the battle of Adwa, President Taye Atske Selassie said Ethiopia’s right to obtain “reliable and sustainable” sea access is “a sovereign trust inherited from those who died in the battle.”
Taye said historical records show that one of Ethiopia’s main diplomatic priorities after the victory was to ensure ownership of a maritime outlet connecting the country to the world.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country with approximately 130 million people, has been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, and it now relies heavily on neighbouring Djibouti for the majority of its maritime trade.
During his remarks, Taye also said that Ethiopia’s interest in securing port access is based on peaceful means and the principle of mutual benefit.
“The fate of 130 million people will be bright only when Ethiopia’s lack of direct access to the sea is resolved,” he said.
Eritrea has previously rejected any suggestion of negotiating over its Red Sea coastline, describing Ethiopia’s recent rhetoric on sea access as provocative and urging respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Regional analysts say the issue remains sensitive in the Horn of Africa, where relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have been volatile despite a 2018 peace agreement that formally ended two decades of hostility.
The Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896, is widely regarded as a landmark African victory against colonial expansion and a defining moment in preserving Ethiopia’s sovereignty.