Civil society leadership in Addis Ababa has launched the Abbay and Red Sea Forum to champion Ethiopia’s water and maritime interests as neighboring littoral states reaffirm regional security alignment
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Civil society leaders and policy experts in Addis Ababa have formally launched the Abbay and Red Sea Forum to advance Ethiopia’s strategic, historical, legal, and economic interests regarding the Nile Basin and Red Sea maritime access through research and international advocacy.
The initiative coincides with a formal shift in national diplomatic strategy. Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Dr. Habtamu Itefa affirmed that securing direct Red Sea access remains an inevitable strategic priority. He confirmed that following primary development milestones for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the federal government will pursue its maritime objectives while maintaining its sovereign right to execute strategic infrastructure without external authorization.
To bolster national capacity, the newly formed forum secured legal recognition under the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation. Managing Director Solomon Tefera stated that the platform will mobilize scholars, legal professionals, and economists to produce evidence-based policy recommendations on Ethiopia’s rights under international law. Media Director Yonas Weldeyesus outlined key objectives, including public awareness campaigns, institutional collaboration with the African Union, IGAD, and the United Nations, and joint academic research partnerships across neighboring states such as Kenya, Djibouti, and Sudan.
Concurrently, a coalition of littoral states reinforced a joint counter-position on regional maritime governance. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with counterparts from Somalia and Djibouti on the sidelines of the Executive Council of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) in Tripoli, Libya. Following consultations, the delegation declared that maintaining Red Sea security falls strictly under the legal jurisdiction of states directly bordering the waterway.
During the tri-nation talks, Cairo reiterated its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty while opposing unilateral actions that alter established regional boundaries. Egypt and Djibouti also detailed joint programs to expand bilateral cooperation in logistics, port management, and maritime connectivity, while Egyptian and Sudanese technical teams maintain joint monitoring of Nile water allocation parameters.
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