Digital Diplomacy Imperative to Pursue Nation's Aspiration For Access to Sea: IFA

Addis Ababa, August 16, 2025 (ENA)— Ethiopia needs to leverage digital diplomacy to effectively communicate its legitimate aspiration for access to the sea to the global community, according to Jafar Bedru, Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA).

Speaking to Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Jafar stressed that Ethiopia's focus is shifting on intensifying efforts for access to the sea following the successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

He described the GERD as a transformative mega-project designed to boost the national economy and provide clean energy to the region without causing harm to the Nile downstream nations.

 the urgent need for a robust digital defense against those who oppose Ethiopia’s national interests.

Jafar underscored that some forces are creating false narratives against Ethiopia's legitimate right to obtain sea outlets peacefully and diplomatically.

Through digital platforms, these forces have attempted to portray the country's desire for sea outlets along the Red Sea and Indian Ocean as a provocative or hostile act, the executive director noted.

They are also working to prevent Ethiopia from achieving its target of access to the sea, he reiterated, adding that they are also propagating disinformation against Ethiopia's legitimate interests through the digital media.

Hence, countering such misguided information and defending the national interest of the country is imperative, Jafar emphasized.

 He also elaborated that promoting the positive image of the country, and educating the international community about Ethiopia's peaceful and legitimate concern about its quest for access to the sea through various social media platforms and serving as ambassadors in this regard should be the duty of fellow Ethiopians.