\u2014 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered a forceful address to the House of People\u2019s Representatives today, warning that if war breaks out over Ethiopia\u2019s Red Sea concerns, \u201cthe outcome is clear.\u201d He emphasized, \u201cWe have reliable capabilities; no one will stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister called on the international community to \u201cmediate\u201d and \u201cpromote a solution\u201d to Ethiopia\u2019s Red Sea issue, describing it as \u201cinevitable.\u201d His remarks came during a parliamentary session in which members raised concerns about regional security and accused the Eritrean government\u2014referred to as \u201cShaabya\u201d\u2014of contributing to instability.<\/p>\n
Abiy began by asserting that every nation has its own \u201cnational interest\u201d and \u201cnational threat,\u201d shaped by the information and knowledge it possesses. He explained that countries use this understanding to either \u201cexpand\u201d or \u201cdiminish\u201d their strategic priorities. \u201cWhat this honorable assembly must understand is that Ethiopia is the country where the last injustice, injustice, and injustice were committed. At the very least, don\u2019t stop us from saying this,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
He warned that \u201cthe absence of war does not mean the absence of gunfire,\u201d and stressed that \u201cif true justice is not ensured, war can break out at any time.\u201d According to Abiy, lasting peace cannot be achieved under unjust or arbitrary decisions. He described Ethiopia\u2019s Red Sea issue as \u201clegal, historical, geographical, and economic,\u201d and questioned the legitimacy of how Ethiopia lost access to the sea. \u201cThe decision was not made by the cabinet, parliament, or the Ethiopian people through a referendum,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way we lost something like the Red Sea has a legal problem. Institutions were not involved, the cabinet was unaware, and we haven\u2019t found a single page of documentation explaining how it happened,\u201d he stated. He described the pursuit of sea access as an \u201cexistential issue\u201d for Ethiopia.<\/p>\n
Abiy recounted that the road to Assab was rehabilitated under an agreement with the Eritrean government, but the arrangement failed. \u201cAfter we repaired the road, they said, \u2018We have a problem\u2014the port is weak.\u2019 Some now claim it happened overnight. It didn\u2019t. We just haven\u2019t told the story,\u201d he said. He revealed that when Ethiopia attempted to send a generator and crane to assist the port, the Eritrean government refused. \u201cThat\u2019s when we realized this thing is hopeless,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that although border crossings were opened during that period, they were \u201cimmediately closed.\u201d Ethiopia had offered to supply electricity to Eritrea at its own expense, but the Eritrean government responded with hesitation. \u201cLet\u2019s think about it,\u201d was their reply, according to Abiy \u2014 a response that signaled a lack of readiness to accept the proposal.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister said Eritrea was \u201cnot very ready to respond\u201d to Ethiopia\u2019s requests and admitted he \u201cdoes not know clearly\u201d why. He blamed the breakdown in relations on the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the devastating Tigray War. \u201cWhen we signed Pretoria, there was a complaint: \u2018It\u2019s not right. Why stop the war? If the TPLF and Tigray are not destroyed, the region won\u2019t find peace,\u2019\u201d he said, attributing the sentiment to the Eritrean government.<\/p>\n
Despite tensions, Abiy reiterated his government\u2019s commitment to resolving the Red Sea issue \u201clegally and through dialogue.\u201d He emphasized, \u201cWe have absolutely no desire for war,\u201d and urged global powers\u2014including the United States, China, Russia, Europe, and Africa\u2014to mediate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we want to express to America, China, Russia, Europe, and Africa before this esteemed council is that Ethiopia\u2019s Red Sea access issue is inevitable. Our priority is peace and dialogue. So please mediate and bring us a solution,\u201d he said. However, he warned that superficial approaches\u2014such as saying \u201cwe will mediate, peace is needed\u201d\u2014would not be effective. \u201cI don\u2019t think the issue will go far,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Abiy acknowledged that Ethiopia lost access to the Red Sea through a 30-year struggle. \u201cWe won\u2019t get it back in one day, nor did we lose it in one day. It will follow a natural process,\u201d he said. While he speculated it could take another 30 years to reclaim access, he added, \u201cI don\u2019t think so. If we approach it calmly and peacefully through dialogue, it won\u2019t take that long. But since time is short, we must look at it with patience.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a direct message to the Eritrean government, Abiy called for an end to \u201csmuggling ammunition\u201d to armed groups in Ethiopia, \u201cillegal human trafficking,\u201d and \u201cblack market currency\u201d operations involving the U.S. dollar. He expressed Ethiopia\u2019s interest in \u201cgrowing together peacefully\u201d with Eritrea\u2014if these issues are resolved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have no desire to fight anyone,\u201d Abiy reiterated. \u201cBut if conflict erupts, the outcome is clear. Crying afterward won\u2019t help. That means we must not start now.\u201d He warned, \u201cNo one will die for you. They may give you morale, but they won\u2019t die for you. In the end, you will die\u2014it won\u2019t help.\u201d<\/p>\n
He concluded, \u201cWe have no desire to engage in conflict with anyone. But if we do, the outcome is clear. We have reliable capacity, and no one will stop us. This should be clear. I think it\u2019s important to act responsibly so we don\u2019t go there.\u201d Abiy affirmed, \u201cI am a million percent sure that Ethiopia will not remain closed\u2014whether anyone wants it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\u2014 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered a forceful address to the House of People\u2019s Representatives today, warning that if war breaks out over Ethiopia\u2019s Red Sea concerns, \u201cthe outcome is clear.\u201d He emphasized, \u201cWe have reliable capabilities; no one will stop us.\u201d The Prime Minister called on the international community to \u201cmediate\u201d and \u201cpromote a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":26069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Red Sea Tensions Escalate as Abiy Accuses Eritrea of Destabilization, Urges Global Powers to Intervene - Dedebit Broadcasting Corporation","description":"\u2014 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered a forceful address to the House of People\u2019s Representatives today, warning that if war breaks out over Ethiopia\u2019s Red Sea"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[404,470,400,287,364,288,233],"class_list":["post-26067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ethiopian-house-of-peoples-representatives","tag-president-lt-gen-tadesse-werede","tag-updates-ethiopia","tag-abiy-ahmed","tag-east-african-politics","tag-ethiopia","tag-eritrea"],"yoast_head":"\n