Diplomatic Efforts Elevate Ethiopia’s Sea Access Quest to Global Agenda

Addis Ababa: A successful diplomatic work that made the issue of Ethiopia’s access to the sea an international agenda has been carried out, Foreign Affairs Minister Gedion Timothewos told the House of People’s Representatives today. Speaking during the 34th regular session of the House of People’s Representatives, the minister highlighted the progress made in bringing to the fore Ethiopia’s long-standing quest for access to the sea.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Gedion addressed wide ranging questions from citizen-centered diplomacy, to regional cooperation, and transnational security challenges during the session. In his response, the minster noted that Ethiopia’s foreign policy is rooted in a principled strategy that prioritizes neighboring countries. Ethiopia is actively collaborating with its neighbors in key areas such as infrastructure development, trade and investment as well as peace and security.

Elaborating on the outcomes of the citizen-focused diplomacy, Gedion said that more than 92,000 Ethiopian nationals stranded in difficult conditions across Africa and the Middle East have been successfully repatriated over the past nine months. He also pointed out Ethiopia’s continued engagement with regional powers and international partners to protect its national interests and address strategic imperatives.

Ethiopia’s diplomatic effort to gain access to sea has gained traction internationally, bolstered by the country’s role in promoting regional economic integration and stability in the Horn of Africa, a contribution that is increasingly acknowledged in global forums. The foreign minister stressed that Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea would be pursued until fruition based on international laws and the principle of give and take.