Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
By SUJAJA
Somalia’s rejection of Ethiopia’s proposal to join regional naval drills didn’t surprise me but the tone of the rejection did. As someone who has studied Horn of Africa politics for over two decades, I find it troubling how easily mutual security interests are being politicized, misrepresented, and turned into nationalist soundbites.
Let’s be honest. Ethiopia isn’t asking to control Somali waters. It’s asking to participate under the umbrella of a multilateral African-led mission in securing one of the most strategic and vulnerable maritime corridors in the world. That’s not aggression. That’s regional responsibility.
Ethiopia is landlocked, yes but not land-blind. Our access to the sea is a matter of national survival, not ambition. Trade, food security, energy imports, peacekeeping logistics none of these are possible without safe and stable maritime routes. And those routes don’t just belong to Somalia they belong to the region, and the continent.
If Ethiopia is good enough to send its soldiers to fight terrorism on Somali soilsomething we’ve done for years at great cost, then surely it should be good enough to sit at the table when it comes to regional maritime security.
The real question is: are we going to let historical grudges and political insecurities get in the way of necessary cooperation?
Somalia has every right to defend its sovereignty. No one disputes that. But sovereignty doesn’t mean shutting out your neighbors when they offer structured, cooperative engagement. It means knowing when to stand firm and when to build alliances.
Let’s also not ignore the elephant in the room: while we argue among ourselves, foreign powers have built multiple naval bases along the Somali coast. The UAE, Turkey, the US, China, and others are operating freely in waters we Africans now claim we’re defending from each other.
The Horn doesn’t need another rift. It needs a plan. Ethiopia is not asking for permission to dominate, it’s asking to contribute. And if we can’t allow that under a joint African mechanism, then we’ve already lost the bigger fight: building a united, sovereign, African-led future.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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No need to read this article when it starts by claiming that no one owns the sea!!. Stupidity should have limits…
Read a little bit on international maritime law you ignorant unnamed writer. Enough with the ignorance and propaganda… All knowledge is just a Google search away. No excuses no more, “oh, I didn’t know”
The vast majority of the sea is not owned by specific county. Only the coast lines are belonged to a Sovereign land of a country. International waters belong to the entire world. So, don’t consider yourself as all- knowing.
Mr. Angel black I disagree with your comment.
The article by SUJAJA is academically rigorous, analytically sharp, and morally urgent—qualities that define truly exceptional political commentary and worth reading. Sorry you feel that way.
Sorry or no sorry, only conclusive arguments count and you 2 give none. We in Greece have a long standing problem with Turkey in defining the sea borders (meaning ownership of the sea) at 12 miles around any Greek island according to international law. Turkey considers our lawful claim of 12 miles as a cause of war. Why, because it means that he who controls these 12 miles can decide which ship is allowed to dock or simply pass through our water. You (Ethiopia) are already using Assab and Djibouti port for your commerce. So having no commercial fleet of ships war why do you need more access to the sea when the land (and therefore the water 12 miles out belong to the country with a shoreline. Why don’t you dispute Kenyan ownership of the sea.
Because your government are bulling cowards going after smaller and weaker states but are afraid of doing the same thing with Kenya. The inflated sense of importance you have over smaller countries your arrogance and pride will be the countries fall, personified in the child-Kings narcissistic projects and disregard of the poor peoples life will be the downfall of this life consuming government.
Ps. I only speak like this about Ethiopia which I consider my huletenia hagere, since I lived for 5 years and married there, out of love and wanting her to do better.