
“We see it as a taboo to discuss the issue of the Red Sea even in the parliament. The Red Sea and the Nile define Ethiopia. They are the foundation for our development and downfall. We require substantial discussions about the Red Sea” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (11.10.2023).
We have seen this one coming. It has been daunting on us. The Addis Ababa who wants a NAVY and wants to be “sea-born”. The landlocked nation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia wants to have it’s own ports and be able to get imports through vessels. Not only have trade agreements and be at will of other nations.
That is what is happening here. Over the last few years there been a shift and possible movements on this front. The Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister has flaunted this sort of ideas over a long time. It isn’t new and it has been visible.
We can go back to June 2021 when Dina Mufti said the state planned to build military bases by the Red Sea. That is putting Eritrea under pressure and only them. As it wasn’t the Gulf of Aden and then Djibouti would be questioned. No, this is Ethiopia telling about the possibility to build a base and be stationed on Eritrean soil.
The landlocked nation spoken of launching a navy back in 2018 and in 2021 there was talk of setting up a Navy base, but Ethiopia has no territory by the sea. They did though in May 2021 launch a logo and a uniform for a new marine unit or navy of the FDRE.
The FDRE has dry-docks and the biggest is 73 kilometres outside of Addis Ababa is Modjo Port and Terminal. It is an inland port, which is dry and a continuation of the Ethio – Djibouti Railway-line. That’s where the Ethiopian Navy will train and that’s the news of the Ethiopian Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael on the 1st June 2022.
Therefore, the things that the PM is speaking off… isn’t new and there been in the works. The ideals and belief that its FDRE right to the Red Sea. Only shows there is a difference between Addis Ababa and Asmara. This is a brewing conflict between the nations. It would be yet another time that the PM goes against a former ally. He has done so in Amhara region and this would be the second ally of the Tripartite Ally in the War of the North. Without the EDF in the Tigray region, the ENDF wouldn’t have had as much firepower or ability to invade region. Therefore, after all the internal conflicts in Ethiopia. It is hard to see the abilities to beat or even destroy EDF in Eritrea.
It is a worrying sign that the PM speaks of this. He is now continuing the idea and we can wonder how they will implement it. Either by war or by dialogue. We can wonder if Eritrea wants to cease sovereignty to Ethiopia and give them parts of Assab ports. By all estimations and such, we cannot see the PFDJ and President Afewerki willingly to give away or be friendly to share the ownership. That’s taking away the independence and we know that’s one of the most valuable assets the PFDJ has.
This means it has do be done by force. It isn’t like any of the neighbours will just give the assets and the waterfronts away to Ethiopia. They will not do so easily and without a cost. That is a worrying and especially with someone as erratic and wildcard as Abiy.
The dream of the Red Sea is getting closer and we should be worried. Peace.











