Ethiopia’s Quest for Sea Access Inevitable National Imperative: Prof. Berhanu Nega

Addis Ababa, September 5, 2026 (ENA)—Ethiopia’s quest for sovereign access to the sea is inseparable to the nation's long-term survival and holds the potential to foster mutual benefits across the Red Sea region, Education Minister Professor Berhanu Nega told ENA.

A leading figure in Ethiopia’s opposition politics, Berhanu said Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is logical, historical, demographic, economic, and fundamentally linked to the country’s security and survival.

Professor Berhanu said Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea is not a temporary issue that can simply be delayed or ignored, given the country’s rapidly growing population and expanding economic needs.

“You cannot have 130 million people sitting here without access to the sea at a time when sea access is very important for security as well as trade,” he said.

 

Professor Berhanu further noted that Ethiopia’s demographic realities make the pursuit of sea access an inevitable national imperative.

Attempts to prevent or indefinitely delay it, he argued, cannot remove the underlying economic, demographic, and strategic realities driving the country’s demand.

He stressed that Ethiopia’s quest should be pursued on the basis of mutual benefit, allowing Ethiopia and neighboring countries to harness the Red Sea’s potential for greater trade, security, connectivity, and shared prosperity.

“It is better if we do this peacefully, and not only peacefully but for mutual benefit, so that all of us can benefit from this,” Berhanu said.

He emphasized that sea access is closely tied to Ethiopia’s long-term survival and development, noting that countries such as Ethiopia naturally require maritime access for trade and security.

“This is something that is very much linked to their survival. They are not going to let it easily slide,” he said.

Berhanu also argued that Ethiopia’s current landlocked status should be understood in its historical context.

 

He said Ethiopia previously had access to the sea but lost it under successive governments, describing the loss as the result of decisions and developments that failed to safeguard the country’s long-term national interests.

For Berhanu, the issue is therefore not simply about access to a port or a stretch of coastline, but about Ethiopia’s long-term economic future, national security, demographic realities, and its place in the wider Red Sea region.

 Describing Ethiopia's loss of direct sea access as a grave historical mistake by previous governments, the minister maintained that the current status quo cannot persist forever.

 While reiterating Ethiopia’s commitment to peaceful negotiations, he warned that the issue will endure across generations until resolved.

 “If a mutually acceptable arrangement is not reached, future generations will not sit idle and allow their survival to be threatened,” he concluded.