Landlocked Ethiopia has made it clear its access to a regional sea port will not come through force or by war with its immediate neighbours.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed while addressing the country’s parliament on Thursday reassured its neighbours his government’s unwavering stance to gain access to the Red Sea only through peaceful means.
Ahmed said Ethiopia has a legitimate right to get sea access, citing international laws and experiences of other countries but told legislators that “We do not seek the sea through war or force”.
He vowed that his government would not refrain from pushing for its goal of gaining access to a sea port, adding “If we don’t achieve it, our children will,” describing the demand as “true and logical.”
While referring to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Ethiopia signed with the enclave of Somaliland earlier this year, Ahmed said that his country had initially proposed a 99-year lease but later agreed to a 50-year term, according to the preference of the authorities in Hargesa.
“How can a 50-year lease be stealing land?” the Ethiopian PM inquired.
“Some even suggested hundreds of years, viewing it as a long-term investment, but we agreed to 50 years” he said.
Referring to relations with Mogadishu, Abiy stated, “Ethiopia has the second-largest Somali population after Somalia. They are our brothers, and we have no agenda against Somalia.”
The diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia has deteriorated following Ethiopia’s MoU with Somaliland; an area Somalia cstill onsiders part of its territory.
MG/as/APA