Ethiopia’s Quest for Sea Access Grounded in History, Law and Economic Necessity: Lawmaker

Addis Ababa, August 26, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia’s pursuit of sovereign access to the sea is not merely a matter of logistics, but an economic, legal and historical imperative, according to Fethi Mahdi, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR).

“Ethiopia’s demand for sea access goes beyond mere logistics, cargo handling and transshipment needs,” Fethi told ENA, stressing that the issue has a broader economic foundation.

He cited United Nations (UN) studies indicating that landlocked countries can experience Gross Domestic Products (GDP) losses of up to 25 percent compared with countries that have direct access to the sea.

He further noted that about 95 percent of Ethiopia’s imports and exports currently pass through a single port, requiring the country to spend up to 2 billion USD annually on port services.

The cost contributes to inflation, constrains exports and limits job creation, he added.

“Imported goods cannot keep pace with Ethiopia’s growth at the required speed, preventing us from creating job opportunities and driving up the cost of living,” he said, describing the situation as severe, scientifically and empirically proven economic harm.

Fethi also framed Ethiopia’s position in historical and legal terms, recalling the country’s longstanding connection with the Red Sea through the ancient port of Adulis during the Axumite era.

“Nature gave it to her; that natural right was stripped away, causing a legitimate nation to lose its sea access through illegal means,” he said, arguing that Ethiopia’s loss of maritime access was not the result of a legitimate legal process.

On the legal front, Fethi cited international frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides mechanisms concerning access to and from the sea for landlocked states.

He also referred to the Awaza Political Declaration adopted at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan.

“Therefore, when Ethiopia raises this issue, it is not out of nowhere,” he said, emphasizing that the country’s demand is grounded in established international legal principles.

Geographically, Fethi noted that Ethiopia is located relatively close to the Red Sea coast and recalled the country’s historical administration of Massawa and Assab, as well as its former naval capabilities, which he attributed to what he described as “historical errors.”

Fethi also presented Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access as an opportunity for broader regional development and integration rather than an issue involving Ethiopia alone.

Ethiopia’s demand for sea access is a matter of jointly developing the region, jointly enriching the region, and achieving regional integration, he said.

He added that Addis Ababa is communicating this position through diplomatic channels, both bilaterally with neighboring countries and through multilateral forums, with the aim of advancing peaceful and mutually beneficial arrangements for maritime access.