The Horn of Africa and the adjacent Red Sea is a strategically important area that has been ravaged by instability. To buttress his argument, Abiy referenced legendary nineteenth-century Abyssinian emperors and warriors who proclaimed the Red Sea as Ethiopia’s “natural boundary”. Abiy’s calls for Ethiopia to acquire a sea port have, understandably, encountered pushback from Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea. Following the war, Assab remained part of Eritrea, forcing Ethiopia to explore other trading routes. Following the devastating war, Ethiopia and Eritrea remained stuck in a no peace-no war stalemate marked by both sides funding each other’s militant opposition groups.

Source: Ethiopian News November 26, 2023 16:03 UTC