Addis Ababa:Former Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Pascal Affi N’Guessan, has acknowledged Ethiopia's pursuit of sovereign sea access as a legitimate national aspiration. N’Guessan, who is also the President of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), expressed his views during a conversation with ENA in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, N’Guessan emphasized that Ethiopia’s ambitions deserve recognition and expressed hope for solutions that are acceptable to all parties involved. This support comes amidst Ethiopia's active efforts to secure permanent access to the Red Sea, a move it justifies based on geographical, historical, and economic grounds.
Ethiopia, currently landlocked, has stressed the peaceful nature of its quest for sea access, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed describing it as an overdue national aspiration. He highlighted the importance of not leaving future generations in a geographically constrained position. The country’s historical ties to the Red Sea ports of Massawa and Assab, which it administered before Eritrea's independence, are central to its ambitions.
N’Guessan reiterated the legitimacy of Ethiopia's quest for a seaport and called for meaningful compromises to resolve the issue. He emphasized the role of African-led solutions and cooperation in ensuring regional stability and prosperity. He noted that addressing Ethiopia’s aspirations requires considering broader geopolitical implications and the shared future of the Horn of Africa.
