Consensus Growing on Ethiopia’s Role in Red Sea Affairs: IFA Researcher

Addis Ababa, September 17, 2026 (ENA) —TheEthiopia’s quest for sovereign access to the Red Sea has been witnessing growing consensus, Chief of Staff and Senior Researcher of the Horn of Africa at IFA, Gizachew Asrat, said.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Gizachew said Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is gaining momentum as a great asset for the Red Sea region.

He noted that “there is a great consensus on Ethiopia’s access to the sea or presence in the sea issues.”

Today, Ethiopia’s access to the sea is increasingly viewed as a legitimate strategic right, driven by its growing population and economy, expanding import-export trade, and pressing national and regional security interests.

The country’s geographical proximity to the Red Sea, together with its historical links to the region’s ports, has remained central to its argument for pursuing a sustainable maritime outlet.

 

Ethiopia historically administered the ports of Massawa and Assab and maintained naval capabilities before Eritrea’s separation.

The Senior Researcher further stated that there is a common understanding that Ethiopia should be around the sea and should also play a great role in the sea in terms of economy and security.

He emphasized the significance of advancing on trust-building and cooperation between neighboring countries, and the global community.

The researcher, particularly stressed the need for understanding the real intent of Ethiopia's quest  for access to the sea.

“The geopolitical, geo-economic, technology and energy, and everything are interconnected and interlinked between the maritime, the sea and the land,” he said.

Gizachew elaborated that the interconnected nature of regional challenges requires countries to focus on common threats and interests rather than treating maritime and land-based security as separate issues.

In this regard, Ethiopia's return to reliable sea access is vital for peace, regional integration and collective security of the Horn of Africa and beyond, he asserted.

“Engaging Ethiopia on the Red Sea platform is an asset for the region,” Gizachew said, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation and partnership.

Maritime security should also be examined from wider geopolitical and geo-economic perspectives, particularly given the strategic importance of global waterways and the competition surrounding them.

Gizachew further emphasized that Ethiopia is part of the global economic and security system and therefore needs to remain engaged in issues affecting the Red Sea and international maritime routes.

 

“We are part of the globe and we have to be engaged there and definitely Ethiopia should have to be around the sea or on the sea,” he said.

He underscored the importance of working closely with regional states and institutions, noting that Ethiopia's return to the sea will be instrumental not only for its national interest but also crucial for ensuring regional stability.

Having a huge population, a growing economy, and a strategic location, the return of Ethiopia’s access to the sea is a vital geopolitical imperative for securing maritime security in the Horn of Africa and the wider Red Sea corridor, the senior researcher stressed.

As the world’s most populous landlocked nation, the country’s strategic push to reconnect with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden corridors represents a foundational pillar for both its domestic survival and the broader geopolitical integration.