University President Stresses Need for Research-Based Deliberations on Access to Sea

Addis Ababa December 22/2023 (ENA)   Academic and research-based deliberations will play a significant role in setting out Ethiopia’s genuine intention on win-win approach for access to sea, Samara University President Mohammed Usman said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the president said the workshop organized by Samara University, in collaboration with Dire Dawa, Addis Ababa, Jigjiga, and Mekelle universities on the Red Sea will serve as impetus for cooperation among the community within the Red Sea. 

The academia have the responsibility to distinguish the fact and fiction that gear up around Ethiopia’s demand for access to the sea, he noted, adding that the joint workshop to be conducted tomorrow will put forth mutually beneficial insights.

The president stressed the need to focus on turning the issue of the Red sea from competition to a topic of tangible cooperation.

“We have regional agendas of integrating the region… We the Red Sea community have the same culture. If you take the Afar, this can be taken as an input to enhance the regional cooperation and integration,” the university president elaborated.

Speaking of the geographic proximity to the Red Sea, the president pointed out that Samara University has extra responsibility to carry out scientific and research to ensure mutual understanding, development and prosperity in the nation's demand to gain access to sea.

“As an institution, the Samara University which is closer to the Red Sea has a unique role in initiating research activity and bringing stakeholders and other universities to help the communities around the Red Sea,” he said.

Cognizant to its aspiration of fostering the mutual benefit of the Afar community within the Red Sea, the president revealed that Samara University has been providing capacity building training on port service management to 20 Djiboutians.   

The joint workshop that opens tomorrow will dwell on the topic “Ethiopia’s Strategic Pursuit: Unlocking the Red Sea --- a Journey through History, Geopolitics and International Law.”