Ethiopia’s peaceful quest for access to sea is legitimate in terms of int’l law: Analyst

Addis Ababa, November 26, 2023 (FBC) – All landlocked countries have the international legal right to obtain reliable access to the sea. Therefore, Ethiopia’s peaceful quest for fair and reliable commercial-military access to the sea is legitimate in terms of international law and aimed at preemptively averting economically driven crises that could threaten regional stability, Moscow-based American analyst, Andrew Korybko (PhD), said during an exclusive interview with FBC.

“Ethiopia has experienced social and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the conflict in its northern part and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Besides, the increase to its population may lead to a mass migration that will in turn affect the regional countries. Taking this into consideration, I believe that access to sea would help Ethiopia unleash full economic potentials for the benefit of its citizens and the region at large.” he noted.

It is also fair and reasonable that Ethiopia wants to rebuild its navy in order to secure the fertilizer and fuel maritime logistics upon which its economic stability depends, the analyst said, adding that “If they’re unexpectedly disrupted, perhaps due to Great Power games in the region, then the economy could immediately enter into a crisis with all that would entail for domestic and regional stability. It’s therefore equally imperative for Ethiopia to rebuild its navy so as to preemptively avert economically driven crises.”

Considering these dynamics, it’s in the neighboring countries’ objective interests to facilitate Ethiopia’s commercial and naval port plans, the analyst stressed.

International Relations scholars suggest that such regional security dilemmas as the one afflicting the Horn are best resolved through joint trust-building initiatives that are mutually beneficial to each party or at least to some of those involved in this dilemma without harming others’ legitimate interests, the analyst explained.

“Prime Minister Abiy proactively sought to do just that by bravely broaching this topic for the purpose of preemptively averting such potentially forthcoming crises through a series of deals.  Prime Minister Abiy suggested giving any interested neighboring country stakes in GERD and other national lucrative companies such as the Ethiopian Airlines in exchange for commercial-military port rights,” the analyst remarked.

The analyst further underscored that Ethiopia’s peaceful port plans stand the best chance of success through a series of mutually beneficial deals with neighboring countries.

By Wondesen Aregahegn