Weekly Message Ethiopia’s Maritime Question: A Just National Cause Gaining International Legitimacy and Momentum

Weekly Message

Ethiopia’s Maritime Question: A Just National Cause Gaining International Legitimacy and Momentum

Ethiopia’s maritime question is a legitimate national concern of all Ethiopians and a matter of growing international relevance. It represents a core national interest and a historic cause rooted in centuries of statehood. As an ancient civilization, Ethiopia historically possessed maritime access and exercised sovereignty over both land and maritime territories. Through established governance, diplomacy, and commerce, the Ethiopian state maintained its territorial integrity and international standing, reflecting its dignity and civilizational depth.

Because this historical reality conflicted with the interests of hostile forces, Ethiopia has long been subjected to external and internal attempts to weaken it by depriving it of its territories and resources. Since the early nineteenth century in particular, sustained pressure has been exerted to seize Ethiopia’s maritime territories and deny it access to the sea. The logic was evident: an Ethiopia with secure maritime access would emerge as a strong and independent power beyond external domination.

Despite repeated attempts, Ethiopia was never conquered, its people never subjugated, and its independence never extinguished. Through collective resistance and sacrifice, Ethiopians preserved their sovereignty. However, through a prolonged conspiracy spanning more than a century—employing mercenaries and internal collaborators—Ethiopia was rendered landlocked, albeit temporarily. For more than three decades, the country has been forced to depend on neighboring states for maritime access, while its natural and historical right to a seaport has been repeatedly undermined.

Today, it is widely acknowledged that maritime access lies at the center of Ethiopia’s national transformation agenda, shaped by public demand and visionary leadership. Ethiopians have made it unequivocally clear that they will not accept a future defined by unjust landlockedness. From the outset, the national leadership has pursued a peaceful and principled solution through diplomacy, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. Under the leadership of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, sustained efforts have been undertaken to resolve regional tensions and secure stable and sustainable maritime access. Nevertheless, zero-sum political actors—opposed to the development of Ethiopia and its neighbors—have persistently sought to obstruct these efforts.

Ethiopia’s demand for maritime access is legitimate, just, and irreversible. It is lawful because Ethiopia is a landlocked country of over 120 million people whose foreign trade depends overwhelmingly on external ports, imposing high costs and structural economic constraints. International practice and legal principles recognize the right of landlocked states to equitable access to the sea through peaceful and cooperative arrangements. Ethiopia is advancing this demand through diplomacy rather than coercion, fully aligned with global norms of fairness and mutual benefit.

An increasing number of countries have expressed support for this rightful cause, recognizing the determination of the Ethiopian government and people. The national interest Ethiopia has been denied due to the loss of maritime access has instead generated revenue for others, imposing unnecessary economic burdens while undermining Ethiopia’s security and long-term development.

Ethiopia’s access to a seaport serves not only its own interests but also those of neighboring countries, the region, and the international community. A secure maritime outlet will enable expanded trade, economic growth, and national development, contributing to regional stability, peace, and shared prosperity. This vision is consistent with contemporary global norms and the evolving international system.

In an increasingly interconnected world, resources are shared in pursuit of equitable development. By advancing its maritime interests through peaceful engagement and mutual benefit, Ethiopia aligns itself with these principles. Other landlocked countries are increasingly placing similar issues on their national agendas, further reinforcing the legitimacy and momentum of this cause.

For these reasons, the maritime question has become a unifying national agenda and a just cause recognized internationally. It reflects Ethiopia’s determination to safeguard its national interests while upholding fairness, equity, and mutual benefit—principles that have long defined its role in global affairs.

Therefore, every Ethiopian is called upon to contribute to this defining moment in national history. As we have affirmed, “We do not inherit debts, but rewards for the next generation.” Let us fulfill our generational duty with unity and resolve, and be remembered as the generation that restored Ethiopia’s gateway to the sea—defending national interests, upholding global justice, and acting with determination, patriotism, and humanity.

Prosperity Party
January 05, 2026 / Tahisas 27, 2018