Abiy made the call during a speech in Parliament on Monday, saying Ethiopia would work to secure a port on the Red Sea and that access was critical to the country’s “civilisation”.
“Based on the principle of give and take, we will work diligently to ensure that Ethiopia has an outlet to the sea,” he said.
Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, leaving Addis Ababa reliant on neighbouring countries for maritime trade. The renewed demand comes as Ethiopia’s relations with its neighbours deteriorate. The government has accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting opposition forces in Tigray.
Lower-level clashes between the federal military and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) began in August, violating a three-year-old peace deal that ended a devastating two-year war. Fighting has intensified following the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition of seven armed groups opposed to the government.
Federal forces this week retook the Tigrayan capital of Mekelle, and a government-aligned group claims it is close to full control of the region. The conflict risks escalating into a wider regional confrontation, with Eritrea backing opposition forces and Somalia’s president stating that Ethiopia can access its port but must negotiate.
As Abiy’s new term begins, the combination of renewed civil conflict and assertive foreign policy has raised concerns about stability in the Horn of Africa.