Libyan Professor Affirms Ethiopia’s Legal Right to Sea Access

Addis ababa: Ethiopia's quest for sea access is firmly grounded in established legal principles, international law, and regional agreements that guarantee landlocked states the right of access to the sea, the Libyan Professor Saad Salama, said. The Libyan scholar is in Ethiopia to attend the National Dialogue conference that opened on Tuesday.According to Ethiopian News Agency, Professor Salama emphasized that Ethiopia and Libya share many common challenges and circumstances, making the study of dialogue management and national consensus mechanisms a valuable source of lessons that could inform the Libyan context. Speaking to Pulse of Africa (POA), he stressed that the right of landlocked countries is not contingent upon political considerations or the positions of other states, but rather on well-established legal norms that enable such countries to exercise their economic and commercial rights in a sustainable manner.The Professor further clarified that Ethiopia's position on the issue is driven by a le gal right recognized under international law, not by expansionist ambitions. This matter, he stated, should be addressed within the framework of regional cooperation and the pursuit of shared interests among countries in the region. 'All international laws and regional legal frameworks grant landlocked states the right to have access to the sea,' he reiterated.Highlighting Ethiopia's historical connection with the sea, Professor Salama pointed out that the country was not always landlocked, and its geographical proximity to the Red Sea supports the rationale for cooperative solutions. He underscored Ethiopia's significant economic and demographic potential, suggesting that facilitating the country's access to the sea would positively impact trade, investment, and regional economic integration across the Horn of Africa.Furthermore, he mentioned that statements from Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter reflect an approach based on cooperation and partnership. Ethiopia's official stance empha sizes mutual benefit and constructive engagement rather than confrontation. He noted that Ethiopia's aspiration to secure maritime access should not be seen as a favor from neighboring countries but as an inherent right guaranteed by international legal instruments.Professor Salama concluded by saying that addressing Ethiopia's quest for sea access should be guided by international law and regional cooperation principles. Such an approach, he argued, would strengthen stability, promote economic development, deepen integration among the Horn of Africa countries, and advance the long-term interests of the region's peoples.