Ethiopia’s PM Stresses Peaceful Resolution Over Red Sea Access with Eritrea
Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed has rejected the prospect of war with Eritrea over Red Sea access, emphasizing dialogue instead. Recent military actions have raised concerns about conflict, threatening a fragile peace previously established between the nations. The delicate situation highlights the importance of diplomacy in preventing humanitarian crises.
On Thursday, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed affirmed his government’s commitment to peaceful dialogue rather than conflict regarding access to the Red Sea with Eritrea. He emphasized, “Ethiopia does not have any intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea for the purpose of gaining access to the sea,” acknowledging the significance of this issue for landlocked Ethiopia.
Concerns about potential conflict have heightened recently, following Eritrea’s nationwide military mobilization and Ethiopia’s troop deployment near their border, as reported by diplomatic sources. The possibility of warfare between these two nations would undermine the historic reconciliation that led to Abiy’s Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and create a humanitarian crisis in a region already struggling due to the war in Sudan.
This rapprochement saw Eritrea support Ethiopian forces during the Tigray conflict from 2020 to 2022, which resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. However, relations between the two countries soured after Eritrea was excluded from negotiations to resolve that conflict in November 2022.
In summary, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has ruled out the prospect of war with Eritrea over Red Sea access, seeking to resolve the issue through dialogue. Recent military mobilizations have raised fears of conflict, threatening the fragile peace established through previous reconciliation efforts. The situation remains delicate, underscoring the need for continued diplomatic engagement to prevent further humanitarian crises in the region.
Original Source: www.tradingview.com
