Ethiopia’s PM insists on access to Red Sea despite regional conflict threat

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkEthiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has pledged to secure a Red Sea port for the country as he begins another five-year term [AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and APPublished On 5 Oct 20265 Oct 2026Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has insisted that his landlocked country must have access to the Red Sea, despite a conflict in the north of the country that risks escalating into a regional conflict.Abiy made the demand as he was sworn in for another five-year term in power on Monday. His call came as Ethiopian forces were pushing back opposition forces in the northern Tigray region, which are backed by Eritrea, whose independence in 1993 blocked Addis Ababa’s access to the coast.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Ethiopian gov’t-aligned group claims close to full control of Tigray regionlist 2 of 4Ethiopian gov’t forces advance in Tigray as rebels retreat: What to knowlist 3 of 4Somali president: Ethiopia can access our port, but must negotiatelist 4 of 4Ethiopia’s forces retake Mekelle amid renewed Tigray fightingend of listRepeating previous assertions, Abiy said in a speech in Parliament that the country would work to secure a port on the Red Sea, saying that access was critical to Ethiopia’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.Ethiopian pro-government Tigray Peace Force fighters ride in a truck as federal forces entered Tigray’s capital of Mekelle, October 4, 2026 [AFP]Abiy’s new term and call for Red Sea access come amid worsening relations between Ethiopia and its neighbours.Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting opposition forces in the northern Tigray region, following a resurgence of fighting against Abiy’s government.Lower-level clashes between the federal military and Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) began in August, violating a three-year-old peace deal that ended a devastating two-year war between the parties.Fighting intensified following the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival – a coalition of seven armed movements, including the TPLF, which has committed itself to removing Abiy’s government.In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia did not object to Ethiopia gaining access to the Red Sea through Somali territory but added that the two countries would need to officially negotiate.Four of the five countries bordering the Red Sea – Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia – met on Sunday in Egypt’s New Alamein, claiming that oversight of the coastline was reserved for bordering states.The following day, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said discussions over the Red Sea must account for the country’s “legitimate interests and enduring connection” to the body of water.