By Muhammad Mamman
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has said his government has no intention of going to war with neighbouring countries as tensions grow across the Horn of Africa over the country’s quest for access to a seaport.
Speaking amid renewed geopolitical anxieties in the region, Abiy emphasised that Ethiopia would pursue maritime access through diplomacy rather than military confrontation. He insisted the government believes negotiations and cooperation with neighbouring states remain the best path forward. 
“We have no intention of invading or attacking others,” the prime minister said, adding that Ethiopia will continue to seek solutions through dialogue and mutually beneficial agreements. 
Strategic push for sea access
Landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, Ethiopia relies heavily on neighbouring ports — particularly in Djibouti — to handle the vast majority of its imports and exports. Analysts estimate the arrangement costs Addis Ababa roughly $1.5bn annually in port and logistics fees, a burden officials say constrains economic growth. 
Abiy has repeatedly framed the search for maritime access as an economic necessity, not a territorial ambition, stressing that any agreement must respect the sovereignty of neighbouring states including Somalia and Eritrea.
Regional anxieties persist
Despite the conciliatory tone, the issue has triggered unease across the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s earlier deal with Somaliland to access a port — a move rejected by Somalia — and growing discussions around Eritrea’s Assab port have raised fears of renewed regional rivalry. 
Security analysts warn that heightened rhetoric and troop movements along some borders could escalate tensions if diplomatic efforts fail.
The concerns are particularly sensitive given Ethiopia’s recent history of conflict, including the devastating war in the northern Tigray Region that ended with a peace agreement in 2022 after causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. 
“Peace through dialogue”
Abiy reiterated that the government believes lasting stability can only be achieved through dialogue and compromise.
“We do not want war,” the prime minister said, urging political actors in Ethiopia and across the region to pursue peaceful engagement rather than confrontation. 
Diplomats say the coming months will be crucial as Ethiopia continues negotiations over maritime access — an issue widely viewed as one of the most consequential geopolitical questions facing the Horn of Africa.
