Red Sea: Eritrea responds to Abiy’s controversial remark

Following contentious remarks from Addis Ababa, authorities in Eritrea declared they would not “enter” discussions concerning Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea. The Red Sea is “a matter of existence” for Ethiopia, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was speaking to MPs. “The Red Sea and the Nile River define Ethiopia; They are the foundations for Ethiopia’s development or its demise,” Mr Abiy said, in remarks some commentators said could cause friction with Eritrea. Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia in 1993 resulted in Ethiopia becoming Africa’s largest landlocked nation. Since then, more over 85% of its imports and exports have been dependent upon its little neighbor Djibouti. A few years ago, Ethiopia had plans to reestablish its navy public. Ports in Eritrea, Djbouti, and Somaliland were mentioned by Mr. Abiy as facilities that could be acquired peacefully. In a brief statement released on Monday, the Eritrean Ministry of Information claimed that “discourses” over maritime access and associated issues “floated in recent times” were “excessive.” It was stated that the situation “has baffled all concerned observers.” Eritrea was the Addis Ababa government’s ally during a recent brutal war in the Ethiopian state of Tigray. Prime Minister Abiy also worked with Eritrean leader Isias Afeworki in 2018 to end a bitter two-decade war between the two nations.

Read more here: https://africangazette.net/red-sea-eritrea-responds-to-abiys-controversial-remark/