Teshome Abebe
As an economist interested in African development and regional integration, I have long argued that geography need not be destiny. Landlocked nations like Ethiopia, with its burgeoning population of over 120 million and GDP growth reported to be averaging 8-10% annually in the pre-pandemic era, face structural handicaps that inflate trade costs and stifle competitiveness. Yet, history and economic theory—rooted in comparative advantage and network effects—demonstrate that strategic partnerships with coastal neighbors can transform these liabilities into shared windfalls. The case of Ethiopia and Eritrea exemplifies this potential. By granting Ethiopia preferential access to Eritrean ports such as Assab and Massawa, and in return fostering free movement of people and commerce, these two nations could catalyze mutual growth, reduce regional vulnerabilities, and forge a political alliance that stabilizes the Horn of Africa. This brief essay, intended for the sedulous reader, evaluates the economic benefits, draws on historical precedents, and advocates for renewed commitment to the 2018 peace framework, warning that failure to act risks perpetuating a cycle of isolation and conflict.
The Economic Burden of Ethiopia’s Landlocked Status: A Costly Dependency
Ethiopia’s lack of direct sea access since Eritrea’s 1993 independence has imposed a steep toll on its economy. Over 95% of its $14 billion in annual imports and exports transit through Djibouti’s port, incurring logistics costs that are 30-50% higher than those of coastal peers.
This dependency translates to an estimated $1.5-2 billion in annual port fees and transit charges, equivalent to 2-3% of GDP, according to UNCTAD data. These costs manifest in elevated consumer prices—Ethiopian households pay up to 20% more for imported essentials like fuel and machinery—and erode export competitiveness. Coffee, sesame, and leather, which account for 80% of exports, lose value as transport delays add 10-15 days to shipping times compared to regional benchmarks.
Eritrea, meanwhile, grapples with underutilized infrastructure and isolation. Its ports, once handling 75% of Ethiopia’s trade pre-1998, now operate at 20-30% capacity, hampering revenue from handling fees and ancillary services. Eritrea’s GDP per capita languishes at $700, plagued by sanctions-lifted only in 2018—and a command economy that deters investment. The 1998-2000 border war’s legacy, costing both nations $4-5 billion in direct damages and lost growth, underscores the folly of enmity. From an economist’s lens, this is a classic prisoner’s dilemma: mutual suspicion yields Pareto inefficiency, while cooperation unlocks gains from trade.
Port Access as a Catalyst for Bilateral Growth: Quantifying the Gains
Eritrea allowing Ethiopia tax-free or preferential use of Assab and Massawa—closer to northern Ethiopia than Djibouti by 200-300 km—could slash logistics costs by 15-25%, boosting Ethiopia’s trade volume by 20-30% within five years, per World Bank modeling of similar corridors. This would not only save Ethiopia $300-500 million annually but also stimulate Eritrean revenues: port handling fees, combined with joint infrastructure investments, could generate $200-400 million yearly for Asmara, revitalizing its mining and fisheries sectors. Eritrea’s industries, from textiles to cement, would gain duty-free entry to Ethiopia’s 120-million-strong market, potentially doubling bilateral trade from the current estimated $50-100 million to $1 billion by 2030, echoing intra-African gains under the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area). AfCFTA is a trade agreement among 54 African nations to create the world’s largest free trade area, connecting 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP of approximately $3.4 trillion.
Reciprocally, Ethiopia facilitating free movement of people and commerce would amplify these effects. Border reopenings, as trialed post-2018, could spur labor mobility: skilled Eritrean workers accessing Ethiopian agribusiness, while Ethiopian entrepreneurs invest in Eritrean salt flats and fisheries. Remittances and tourism—Eritrea’s Asmara is a UNESCO gem—could add 5-7% to GDP growth in both. Econometric studies, such as those on the EU’s Schengen Area, show free movement correlates with 10-15% productivity gains via knowledge spillovers and reduced transaction costs.
Consider the 2018 Jeddah Agreement’s early dividends: flights resumed, telecoms reconnected, and the MV Mekelle, a general cargo vessel registered in Ethiopia, docked at Massawa—the first Ethiopian vessel in 20 years—signaling $57 million in Assab upgrades. Yet, stalled implementation due to tensions in Tigray has squandered this momentum; GDP losses from the 2020-2022 conflict alone by far exceeded $20 billion regionally. Reviving port deals now could offset these scars, fostering a “land-linked” model where Ethiopia’s raw materials (e.g., potash) feed Eritrean processing hubs, creating value chains akin to those in the Mekong Basin.
Lessons from Global Precedents: Landlocked Success Stories
The Ethiopia-Eritrea dynamic mirrors successful port-transit pacts elsewhere, validating the model’s efficacy. Ethiopia’s own 2002 agreement with Djibouti exemplifies this: a joint committee streamlined customs, yielding 70% of Djibouti’s port income from Ethiopian traffic while cutting Ethiopia’s transit times by 40%. Scaled to Eritrea, with its untapped Red Sea berths, the multiplier could be higher—potentially adding 1-2% to annual GDP growth, per UNESCAP estimates for Asian landlocked corridors.
Paraguayan’s access to Atlantic ports via Brazil and Argentina, under the 1967 UN Convention on Transit Trade, has tripled its soy exports since 2000, with trade costs falling 25% through shared rail investments. Similarly, Mali’s 1963 pact with Senegal enabled Dakar port usage, boosting Malian cotton revenues by 15% annually and Senegalese handling fees by $100 million. Burkina Faso and Niger’s recent West African corridors to Togo’s Lomé and Benin’s Cotonou ports—facilitated by AfDB funding—have reduced freight costs by an estimated 20%, enhancing SME competitiveness.
These cases underscore a key economic principle: mutual benefit hinges on non-discrimination and infrastructure co-financing. For Ethiopia-Eritrea, a bilateral transit treaty—modeled on UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) Article 125—could ensure equitable terms, with Ethiopia funding 60% of road/rail upgrades while Eritrea controls port operations. Free commerce clauses would further amplify gains, as seen in the Northern Corridor (Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda), where intra-trade surged by an estimated 300% post-liberalization.
Political Alliances: From Pragmatic Ties to Regional Stability
Economic interdependence often begets political alignment, per liberal institutionalist theory. The 2018 peace deal briefly demonstrated this: Eritrea’s reintegration into IGAD and UN sanction relief fostered a tactical alliance against shared threats like al-Shabaab. Yet, the Tigray war fallout fractured this, birthing opportunistic pacts—Eritrea with Egypt and Somalia to counter Ethiopia’s Somaliland MoU. A renewed port-trade framework could realign incentives: joint security patrols along the Red Sea, co-development of Berbera-Assab corridors, and diplomatic heft against Gulf meddling.
Politically, this alliance would buffer Ethiopia’s federal fragility—e.g., wars in Amhara and Oromia—and Eritrea’s isolationist risks. Imagine a Horn bloc rivaling ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States): combined GDP of more than $150 billion, a unified voice in AfCFTA negotiations, and deterrence against proxy wars. Historical analogs abound; post-1994 South Africa-Rwanda ties quelled regional insurgencies while boosting FDI by an estimated 40%. Risks persist—Eritrea’s indefinite service requirement and Ethiopia’s ethnic federalism—but economic stakes could enforce restraint, as interdependence theory predicts.
Advocacy: A Call to Action for Shared Prosperity
The 2018 accord was considered a masterstroke, ending “no war, no peace” and unlocking $5-10 billion in latent trade. Its erosion, amid the Tigray war which has cost enormous lives and livelihoods, and the flawed Pretoria Agreement, a new cycle of violence risks billion in regional losses. Policymakers must prioritize and ratify port protocols as urgently as possible, launch a joint fund for infrastructure, and embed people-to-people exchanges in a revised friendship treaty. A treaty that will help eliminate the most stubborn barrier to change: mistrust! A mistrust that has stripped both regimes, a culture, and countries of any sense of control over their destiny.
Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki—architects of 2018—owe their people this vision. As economists, we know markets thrive on open doors; as advocates, we urge close the chapter of conflict, open the gates to the sea. In doing so, Ethiopia and Eritrea will not merely access ports—they will anchor a prosperous, stable Horn.
Teshome Abebe is Professor of Economics and a former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at two Universities.
Further Reading
1. African Arguments. (2014). “Eight Business Benefits of Resuming Economic Relations Between Ethiopia and Eritrea”.
2. The Reporter Ethiopia. (2024). “Diversifying Ethiopia’s Port Options”.
3. One Earth Future. (2018). “Ethiopia-Eritrea Rapprochement and the Economic Dynamics of the Horn of Africa”.
4. UNCTAD. (2021). “Review of Maritime Transport”.
5. International Food Policy Research Institute. (2025). *Ethiopia’s Sea Access Strategy*.
6. Addis Standard. (2023). “In-Depth: Ethiopia’s Quest for Alternative Ports”.
7. UN Africa Renewal. (2018). “After Making Peace, Ethiopia and Eritrea Now Focus on Development”.
8. Eritrea Ministry of Information. (2018). “Eritrea and Ethiopia: Towards Economic Cooperation”.
9. U.S. International Trade Commission. (2021). “Ethiopia – Roads, Railways and Logistics*.
10. Wikipedia. (2025). *2018 Eritrea–Ethiopia Summit”.
11. UN Africa Renewal. (2018). “After Making Peace”.
12. ISS Africa. Institute of Security Studies. (2020). “The Eritrea-Ethiopia Peace Deal is Yet to Show Dividends”.
13. SAIIA. South African Institute of International Affairs. (2023). “The Law of the Sea and Landlocked States”.
14. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. (1978). “Access of Land-Locked States to and From the Sea”.
15. ResearchGate. (2015). “The Rights of Land-Locked States in International Law”.
16. Sustainable Development Goals Action. (2024). “From Landlocked to Land-Linked”.
17. The London School of Economics, Africa at LSE. (2025). “Ethiopia-Eritrea Relations are Becoming Even More Strained”.
18. Chatham House. (2025). “Tensions in Tigray Could Spark War Between Ethiopia and Eritrea”.
19. ACCORD. (2025). “The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend”.
20. Center for Strategic and International Studies. (2025). “Vying for Regional Leadership in the Horn of Africa”.
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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It is in mankind’s experience , wars wont last, & bring loses, kill a lot of innocent propel, & destroys economies, and nothing GOOD come of them.
Peace & friendship on the other hand proven to lasts LONG (forever) , brings joy & prosperity for all.
So, why do (a FEW) people think and chose war knowing full well nothing GOOD comes out of it for them or to that they think is the ‘enemy’…
Is ‘temporary’ ‘win’ (loss of reason) worth the ‘permanent-bad-scar’ passed on to generations to come?
We did not cause this divisions, its the outcome of European (‘temporary’) colonial ambition (“scramble for Africa”) left a permanent-scar on the people of Africa, Asia, North & South America, Asia minor, & Australia. Knowing these facts why are we making the ‘enemy’s IDEA ours & work to further divide-ourselves in supporting our own nations economic destruction and THE DEATH of OUR OWN PEOPLE?
UNITY such as AU, UN, etc. that we work hard to form & join while DISMANTLING our own UNITY (FAMILY); it makes NO SENSE. POISON in the MINDS of a handful of (small-minded) people CREATE & try hard to implant the same poison in the minds of the masses, with some success temporarily, but splitting ONE cannot be PERMANENT; should not be pursued knowing full well the long term OUTCOME is not worth the SUFFERING it brings along the way. We have examples all around us, the Brits went to war with US (former colony) twice BURNED the White House in DC; but today US & UK are the best of not only friends, see each other as one people separated by water…
Ethiopia & Eritrea one people, same culture, letters, religion, living on the same undecided LAND, are not put together by some man made ‘unity’, they are there naturally, why the NEED to divide, set by an external-Force based on GREED, be taken as ‘gospel’ and forcefully adopted just because a FEW among the FAMILY ( DARK Horse) think it is ‘better’, very foolish, caused us immeasurable harm for the most part of several decades.
Little-minded-ness & lack of VISION is ailing us from North to South & East to West in the last while, considering our very long and rich history; and its ‘protection’ unmatched by no other; ‘we shall overcome’.
It is inevitable, soon enough wise heads would prevail and triumph in bringing sanity to the motherland, and we stand together again, as one people with a variety cultures and traditions.
Be well.
Let’s all of us have our Jamaican brothers and sisters in our thoughts and prayers. An extremely powerful and deadly hurricane is barreling towards their major city of Kingston and will be on top of them as a category 4 storm. It is predicted to be moving at a slow rate and will lay siege on that city and on its both sides possibly for hours. We remember what a weaker Katrina did to New Orleans in 2005. May The Almighty Our Creator Save those noble people who adore Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
A stronger earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter Scale just jolted the area near a town called Debre Sina. Luckily it was about 10km deep but still can do damage to homes and roads. I just searched the town on Google Map and it is about 120 miles from the capital. It is also a high terrain area at more than 9,000 feet. This earthquake demon is not leaving that country alone. Let’s hope and pray there was no harm to residents and property.
On a lighter side, I just read encouraging news on one of news websites about the airlines, EAL. It has announced that it will start manufacturing civilian airplanes locally in cooperation with Boeing with our son/brother Henok Teferra Shawl, Managing Director of Boeing Africa behind the steering wheel. I have told you a million times that the airline has been managed and run from top to bottom by geniuses since it’s founding. It was created to run independently by the far sighted the late Emperor almost 80 years ago.
Okay, bigots and connivers who hate everything about that gem of the colored called Ethiopia with a passion. I know this news will drive you up the wall. You see that lake/pond near you? Jump in the deep end and don’t even contemplate about coming up. Don’t worry. Your bosom buddy Lucifer will join you down there.
Why not comment on the article? You must hate when the Ethiopian people unite. Are you Abiy’s cardre?
1). Lest We Forget: Eritrea has mostly been serving Ethiopia’s Enemies as proxy/spring board/breeding ground or accomplice combatant [ youtu.be/Yk-_YFJwDH4 ]. Egypt’s EPLF & ELF have also been poisoning Eritreans with anti-Ethiopia venom for ≥50 years.
2). Eritreans & “The Stockholm Syndrome”: Under Italian Occupiers [≈1896 to ≈1945], Eritreans were limited to Grade-4, denied dawn-to-dusk street access, etc. Yet, Eritreans adore them & demonize the Ethiopians who showered them with equality, education, etc.
3). Alsace-Lorraine [France] vs. Eritrea [Ethiopia]: Germany occupied France’s Alsace-Lorraine twice, but the Entente/Allied returned it to France twice [≈1918 & ≈1945]. Italy snatched Eritrea from Ethiopia [≈1896], but handed it over to Britain/Allied [≈1945]. So, doesn’t Ethiopia have the right to claim all of Eritrea let alone the Affar Red Sea Coast?
4). Affar Region [South of ‘Massawa’ to North of Djibouti (Red Sea Coast)]: This is the Ethiopian Affars’ homeland & should be returned. Eritrea annexed it in 1991/1993 when Egypt’s Proxy Secessionists [EPLF & TPLF] invaded-and-occupied Ethiopia in 1991.
5). Menelik-II’s 99-Year Djibouti Lease to France: France neither renewed its lease nor returned Djibouti to Ethiopia. I wonder why Ethiopia hasn’t reclaimed Djibouti either!
6). EPLF/Eritrea & Peace: No sooner had EPLF declared Eritrea’s ‘independence’ [1993] than it went to war with Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and even Yemen [the Hanish Islands].
7). Ethio-Eritrea Open Border Hazard: It’s a threat to Ethiopia’s National Security. When Abiy allowed it, EPLF flooded Addis with over 300K spies in weeks & closed Eritrea’s border. Ethiopia’s Enemies will also flood Ethiopia with spies/saboteurs/weapons via Eritrea.
8). Business with EPLF/Eritrea [Ethiopia Got Screwed Over-and-Over]:
i). 1991-1998: Eritrea shot to one of the world’s top coffee, gold, etc. exporters overnight. EPLF looted or bought Ethiopia’s exports [in Birr, in black market] and exported it itself.
ii). 1998: EPLF launched another war on Ethiopia, confiscated Ethiopia’s imports/exports at Massawa & Aseb. Ethio Maritime & Ethio Insurance went bankrupt compensating!
iii). Ethiopian Airlines [EA]: (a). Eritrea refused to pay EA over 10 million USD it owed; (b). Eritrea froze EA’s account & confiscated property worth millions [alleging EA must compensate Eritreans for lost luggage] →No Eritrean brought EA Baggage Claim Tag/Slip.
9). Ante-Abiy Ethiopia: Debt/GDP Ratio at 59% [ youtu.be/upKEL9wQvrY?t=1198 ]. TPLF left nothing even to pay government employee salaries. Abiy kept Ethiopia afloat with 1 billion USD from UAE’s Prince MBZ [ youtu.be/Pg3WuF1eXww?t=5 ]. Thanks!
10). Post-Pandemic GDP [Despite COVID, USA’s Pro-TPLF Embargo/Sanctions, etc.]:
i). ↑8.1% [Months Ago] →Beat WB/IMF Expectations: youtu.be/SJBVcbtzS3A?t=25
ii). ↑10% [Months Ago] →UN-WFP Impressed: youtu.be/MFHaKycK4P0?t=34
Doing (only) what is DEEDED is best, instead of wasting time in keeping score & devising ways in reaction to… (their ‘foolish ways’ ) . Solves nothing.
Asking “Why?”
And stepping in their shoes, to find /guess the answers is perhaps helpful, no one does what they do without a reason. ( mirror mirror)
Have you noticed people going to a funeral are in certain ‘frame of mined’ vs the same people going to a wedding?
The idea is like this, one’s experience in the outside world ( using the 5 senses) has its root in the one’s internal world (inner world), meaning, it is a reflection from within (thought, plan, idea, fantasy, fear… etc etc. usually randomly generated thoughts of the mind, from the frequently used words/phrases ( ‘active index’)) So, changing thought patterns ‘deliberately’ will change the ‘active index’, hence the experience.
“Blessed are the peacemakers…”.
Be well.
“When Deng Xiaoping initiated his 4 modernization’s he made it very clear EDUCATION will be one of these 4, and today as far as china is concerned it has one of the BEST EDUCATION system IN THE WORLD. It produces more STEM STUDENTS, more engineers, more THINKERS, than there are in America, and whoever is there in America are also CHINESE…” ( NVIDIA Chinese, Microsoft Indian, Google Indian …)
“India Is Completely Aligned With The Americans”: Pravin Sawhney On Indo-American Relations & China
Link = youtube.com/watch?v=jUmeqXOMUe0
#)
‘Out Of 193 Countries Of The World, 151 Countries Have Joined BRI Project Of China’: Pravin Sawhney
Link =youtube.com/watch?v=hKGhWdM7ADo
One may think, ‘what is this has to do with the ‘article’ even more so with Ethiopia?’, I argue, a lot.
Education is the PILLAR for development, not only the ‘THINKERS’ it produces that put the initiatives forward, but the very CORE technological, (technical) capabilities that can MAKE it HAPPEN.
With a 3.3% ESL graduates, expecting a different result is not doable… and no wonder the fabric of our society is the way it is (has been for decades) simply because we are pumping out less qualified minds for the Challenges we are facing, and the closest thing to solving problems is not FINDING CONSENSUS, but running for guns in order to SUBJUGATE. Almost 6 decades we have not learnt that it wont work here, our LONG history is a testament that we Ethiopian are a cut above; we never allow the use of FORCE to walk us back one inch; all that tried it left the seen with shame to some shelter elsewhere, or in the TPLF case to a familiar tolerant/unorganized & still not recovered society from its 4 decades abuse. After their 2022 war where $20 billion ( equivalent to building 4 GERD) lost, these ‘dimwits’ are still agitating for a NEW war they CANNOT win, but bring more suffering and DEATH, and more loss and economic decline (hunger and suffering ) in the area they think they will help TRANSFORM ( as if the past 4 – 5 decades weren’t enough…).
Again it comes back to our broken ‘modern’ EDUCATION system.
Our ancestors didn’t have ‘PhD'(s) framed on the wall, but knew better than anyone anywhere, and passed on a UNITED COUNTRY, built not over centuries, but several millennia (which of course is not appreciated by the recent ‘pop-ups’ crowd…).
Foreword The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Education.
link = moe.gov.et/storage/Books/ESAA%202022-23%20Final.pdf
We plant carrot and expect wheat.. it impossible… but fixable, come (next) planting season; only if we recognize the problem and its DEEPER consequences in the decades to come…
I do not see any difference between the people in the 2 capitals, in Addis and Asmara the same people that saw our similarities than the differences-in-the-minds in 2018 do not see eye to eye since one or both DIDN’T get what they wanted…
( hell and heaven are not geographical-locations, that we know of (seen), but both reside in the human mind, when one happy he/she is in heaven, when unhappy (things did not go the way we wanted) it is hell).
And ‘FINDING CONSENSUS’ and PROBLEM SOLVING seems to be further away than the guns both are eying, the unfortunate the 1998 -2000 war that devastated the area seems to be forgotten.
Putting aside the human life that is going to be affected, and if we just focus on the economic losses ( the article being about economics) the combined estimation to be somewhere around $20 billion, & imagine what kind of DEVELOPMENT can be realized on both in Assab and Massawa ports and the kind of jobs that can be created, and the infrastructure connecting these ports with both Asmara and Addis and other areas .. would be enormous and changing millions of lives POSITIVELY for the long term, and making both nations prosperous beyond anything we can imagined…
That is WINNING, the people on both sides DESERVE it, this is not something that is NOT there yet, it is already there in our HANDS but not REALIZED (dormant POTENTIAL) when the VISION to realize it COMES TO FOCUS the reverberation would touch positively all the living now & the generations not yet born.
“Yes we can!”
Be well.
‘Singapore prime minister warns of turbulence ahead in ‘post-American’ order | FT Interview”
Link =youtube.com/watch?v=NXSI4cCm3BM
#2)
‘What will geopolitics look like in the next 10 years? | Kishore Mahbubani, Ajay Bisaria | IIMPact’
“‘Green House emissions’ ( 1970s) replaced by ‘White house emissions’ (2025)”
Link = youtube.com/watch?v=ayHXpoJxA2E
“Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS…’
Be well.
Addendum:
The Extra Mile Ethiopia went with EPLF/Eritrea for Red Sea Access: youtu.be/esedLTkujB0?t=338
I believe that historical context should be incorporated since the Ethio-Eritrea case is not the same as the others mentioned!
————————————————————————————————————————————————
Historical Background: Italy snatched Ethiopia’s Bahirè-Nègash during the First Italo-Ethiopian War [1895-1896]. Italy renamed it ‘Eritrea’ and occupied it till the end of WW-II [1945]. In 1945, Italy surrendered to Britain [Allied Powers] and also handed Eritrea over to Britain. Britain should have handed Eritrea back to Ethiopia as all the Allied Powers handed back most Axis-Occupied lands →like Alsace-Lorraine to France.
The Affar Red Sea Coast [South of Massawa to North of Djibouti]: It is Ethiopian Affars’ homeland since the dawn of time with Asèb & Sèmèrä as alternate capitals. It has never been part of Eritrea! In 1991, Eritrea annexed it when Egypt’s Proxy Secessionist Duo [ሻብያ/EPLF/Eritrea & ወያኔ/TPLF/Tigray] invaded-and-occupied Ethiopia.
Worse, EPLF concocted the ‘Eritrean Affars’ crap and Land-Locked Ethiopia. Although the 1990s TPLF-EPLF Treaties should all be Null-and-Void and despite all that travesty of justice, Ethiopia went the Extra Mile and pleaded with the EPLF for Red Sea Access: youtu.be/esedLTkujB0?t=338
Addis Ababa Flooded with EPLF/Eritrea’s Spies: The EPLF/ሻብያ used the 2018 Ethio-Eritrea reconciliation honeymoon as façade, opened the Ethio-Eritrea border, flooded Addis Ababa with ≥300,000 EPLF’s Spies [within weeks], AND closed Eritrea’s border. So, beware that these spies are EPLF Sleeper Cells ready to attack Ethiopia from inside.
“Worse, EPLF concocted the ‘Eritrean Affars’ crap and Land-Locked Ethiopia. Although the 1990s TPLF-EPLF Treaties should all be Null-and-Void and despite all that travesty of justice, Ethiopia went the Extra Mile and pleaded with the EPLF for Red Sea Access: youtu.be/esedLTkujB0?t=338”
In that regard, one of the primary reason for the conflict in Amhara region erupted is due to Abiy’s flip-flop concerning the legitimate claim of Amhara region of ‘Northern Begameder’ which was carved away & made part of “Western Tigray’ as well as ‘Rayya’ that was part of Wello province taken by TPLF, 1990 BY FORCE, MUST also be ‘Null-and-Void’ as well.
That being said, THE BIGGER PICTURE HOWEVER NEED NOT BE only about the MISS-BORDERING HISTORICALLY ETHIOPIAN LAND but also to set the sage THE DIALOG THAT NEED TO HAPPEN to BRING BACK the people of Eritrea INTO The Ethiopian family where they BELONG; prior to the European coloration took place.
So that we reconnect the precolonial greater Ethiopian family back together again.
TPLF should be disbanded completely, and the ‘leaders’ must face legal action for the CRIMES they committed against the people of Ethiopia as a whole, & the people of Tigray in particular.
Be well.
Just answering the question “How do Ethiopia & Eritrea move forward?”:
1). Right the Wrongs committed against Ethiopia! Let’s start with “Caesar’s to Caesar!” The Affar Red Sea Coast [ARSC] has never been part of Bähirè-Nègäsh/‘Eritrea’! Hence, Isayas/EPLF/ሻብያ must AT LEAST return the ARSC to Ethiopia! ONLY afterwards that Ethiopia should engage in any other bilateral relations case-by-case. Fair enough?
2). The “Aseb belongs to Eritrea” Crap: This disingenuously indexes Eritrea’s History to 1991/1993 and rigs decisions in Eritrea’s favor. That’s a non-starter since nobody represented Ethiopia at the Bähirè-Nègäsh/‘Eritrea’ Secession Ratification Table! EPLF & TPLF did that! Both are Egypt’s Proxy Anti-Ethiopia Thugs who co-bled Ethiopia!
3). The Crocodile Tears of Ethiopian Diaspora ‘Intellectuals’ [EDI] for Ethiopians: Most EDI are beneficiaries of former self-appointed tyrant regimes & their descendants. They were the same ones who turned Ethiopia in to “The World’s Poster Child of Poverty & Famine” and fled to the West →for better life & education! So, no Ethiopian should have faith in most of these Petty Opportunists who shed their crocodile tears for Ethiopia!
4). Ethiopia for Ethiopians: Decisions that affect Ethiopia’s present & future generations should ONLY be made by the Ethiopians in Ethiopia! Ethiopia has enough Ethiopians in Ethiopia to solve Ethiopia’s present & future problems. Anyone who has Ethiopia’s welfare at heart can go back to Ethiopia & join the Problem Solvers. No crocodile tears!
“Easier to attract bees with sugar…”
Yes, Ethiopia have been victimized by TPLF’s 1993 half-baked-‘referendum’ on Eritrea’s secession; FAVORING their future “Greater Tigray” ( eying & prepping Eritrea (as its future colony) in building its “Greater Tigray” by also CARVING OFF Northern Begameder (wolkait) and Rayya from North-Eastern Amhara region).
We do not have to be emotional (in our attempt to solving this issue in ‘righting the wrong’ , but logical, based on SOUND REASONING (‘evidence based’) ( as shown in your ‘Addendum:’), followed by seeking serious DIALOG by sending a DELEGATION to Eritrea, to build consensus for a peaceful RESOLUTION.
‘Diaspora’ (EDI) :
———————-
Google search:
‘Chinese Diaspora contribution to china’s early days of development”
“The Chinese diaspora played a crucial role in China’s early development by providing significant foreign investment, particularly in export-oriented sectors, which helped establish transnational production networks. Their cultural and ancestral ties allowed them to navigate political risks and influence economic reforms, contributing to China’s rapid growth during the late 20th century.”
East Asia Forum
Overview of the Chinese Diaspora’s Contributions
The Chinese diaspora has played a significant role in China’s early development, particularly during the economic reforms initiated in the late 20th century. Their contributions can be categorized into several key areas.
Economic Investment
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
-Major Source of Capital: Diaspora Chinese were instrumental in providing the majority of foreign investment in China during the early reform era.
-Export Industries: They focused on developing export-oriented sectors, which were crucial for China’s economic integration with neighboring countries.
Development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
-Influence on Policy: Diaspora entrepreneurs participated in shaping the policies surrounding SEZs, which became vital for attracting foreign investment and boosting economic growth.
-Technology and Capital: They invested in these zones, facilitating the growth of China’s export industries and supporting liberalization efforts.
Cultural and Social Ties
Networking and Business Connections
-Cultural Links: The diaspora maintained strong cultural and ancestral ties, which helped mitigate political risks for foreign investors.
-Business Networks: They established extensive business networks that connected China with global markets, enhancing trade opportunities.
Revitalization of Local Economies
-Support for Local Enterprises: Investments from the diaspora revitalized local township and village enterprises, contributing to economic stability during challenging times.
Conclusion
-The Chinese diaspora’s contributions were pivotal in transforming China into a global economic powerhouse. Their investments, cultural ties, and business acumen laid the groundwork for China’s rapid development and integration into the world economy.
East Asia Forum; icd: culturaldiplomacy.org
#2)
“The Chinese diaspora’s role in the rise of China”
Published: 14 September 2016
Reading Time: 5 mins
Link = eastasiaforum.org/2016/09/14/the-chinese-diasporas-role-in-the-rise-of-china/
Some in the DIASPORA community could be (may have been) CRITICAL in their ‘views’ (from a distance), but their economic ‘Contribution’ (in Ethiopia’s case supporting national projects like GERD etc. and supporting their extended families in Ethiopia) cannot be ignored, or overlooked.
Be well.
T,
1). Ethiopian Diaspora [ED]: Most ED in the West are servants/beneficiaries of former self-appointed tyrant regimes & their descendants. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! A serpent’s egg won’t yield a dove either! So, I don’t expect ED to help Ethiopia!
Info.: When TPLF declared war on Ethiopia [amid COVID], adding insult to the injury, the West supported TPLF and imposed embargo/sanctions/etc. on Ethiopia. So, Abiy asked each ED for $1 [cup of coffee]. I wished him Good Luck with the ED in the West! [Cf.: I know Amara ED who bought land in Addis from TPLF in their unborn child’s name!]
2). The only reason I reply to some here is to avert my past from becoming this Ethiopian generation’s future. Under Derg, Ethiopia lost a generation because of Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing [Meison/EPRP/EPLF/TPLF/etc.] bleeding Ethiopia serving foreign interests.
As back then, some use academic status [Dr./Prof./Engr./etc. Crap] for disinformation & tactful promotion of Eritrea’s or Egypt’s interests. As back then, as we speak, Ethiopian lives are on the line! Egypt/EPLF/TPLF/etc. are enjoying the Ethio-Ethio bloodshed pitting Ethios against each other [funneling weapons/funds/etc. to Thugs in Amara/Oromo/etc. hats (like the Amara Fanno, Oromo Fanno, etc.)].
NB: No Egyptian dies! No Eritrean dies! No ED dies! ONLY Ethiopians back home die!