Ethiopia’s Search for Sea Access Raises Bigger Questions for the Horn of Africa

Addis Ababa (WDN) – Ethiopia’s determination to secure reliable access to the sea is becoming one of the most consequential geopolitical issues in the Horn of Africa. As Africa’s second-most populous country, Addis Ababa has repeatedly argued that remaining landlocked imposes significant economic and strategic costs. Yet its pursuit of maritime access has also generated concern among neighboring coastal states, particularly Somalia, whose political and institutional fragility makes it especially vulnerable to external pressure.

Ethiopian lawmaker Fethi Mahdi, Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, said Ethiopia’s demand for sea access goes beyond transportation and trade. He described it as an economic, legal and historical necessity.

According to Fethi, approximately 95 percent of Ethiopia’s imports and exports currently pass through a single port- Djibouti, imposing substantial annual costs on the country. He argued that dependence on one maritime corridor increases the price of goods, contributes to inflation and undermines Ethiopia’s export competitiveness.

He also invoked Ethiopia’s historical connection to the Red Sea, pointing to the ancient port of Adulis and the maritime links of the Aksumite Kingdom. He argued that Ethiopia historically maintained access to the sea and that its loss was not resolved through a process Addis Ababa considers legitimate.