Addis ababa: Ethiopia’s quest for access to the sea stems from the desire for equitable economic benefits and from shared security of the East Africa region, House of People’s Representatives (HPR) Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee Deputy Chairperson Fetih Mahdi said. Speaking to ENA, the Deputy Chairperson said that Ethiopia is one of the forty-four landlocked countries in the world.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Deputy Chairperson elaborated that Ethiopia once owned a seaport but lost it due to a historical error. He noted that Ethiopia’s proximity to the sea and its large population set it apart from other landlocked countries. The loss of sea access results in significant economic losses, as a large part of the global trade system is conducted by sea. The lack of access has forced the country to incur high costs for transportation and logistics services for both import and export products.

This situation has led to an increased cost of living for citizens and reduced the competitiveness of domestic products. Therefore, sea access is crucial for ensuring fair access to the global economic system, and the loss of such access significantly hinders the overall development of countries. The Deputy Chairperson emphasized that accessing the sea peacefully is a matter of survival for the growing economy of Ethiopia and its large population.

Fetih Mahdi underscored that Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is reasonable and fair, considering its significant population and economic growth. He further argued that the demand is based on mutual regional economic benefits. Additionally, the quest for sea access is directly linked to shared security beyond the economic ties of the East African region.

Regional connectivity would promote trade, tourism, and job opportunities, serving as a foundation for prosperity across all countries in the region. Strengthening economic ties would bring peace and stability to East Africa. Hence, Ethiopia’s access to the sea would contribute significantly to collective regional security, mitigating risks associated with the lack of sea access.

Fethi stressed the importance of bolstering internal and external diplomatic efforts to resolve Ethiopia’s demand for access to the sea.