By A Yusuf
Djibouti, June 12, 2025 –The Government of Djibouti has firmly rejected a request from Ethiopia seeking access to the Red Sea through Djibouti’s coastline and permission to establish a naval military base.
Djiboutian President IsmaïlOmar Guelleh stated that Ethiopia recently sent a delegation with a formal request for maritime access, specifically targeting the port of Tadjoura, where they also wanted to build a naval base—an idea Guelleh described as a threat to Djibouti’s sovereignty.
According to Guelleh, Djibouti had previously offered Ethiopia economic cooperation and the use of its ports, but Ethiopia’s demand for sovereign territory was excessive and unacceptable.
“The Ethiopians sent us a delegation with a request we cannot accept: to grant them sovereign land between the border and the Port of Tadjoura so they can build a naval base there,” President Guelleh told Jeune Afrique. “This was never agreed upon, so we have completely shut down that request.”
Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in office since 2018, has openly stated that his country needs direct access to the sea. His statements have raised significant concerns among neighboring countries like Somalia and Eritrea.
However, President Guelleh noted that the current situation is calm, thanks to Turkish mediation after tensions rose over a controversial deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which angered the Somali government in Mogadishu.
Guelleh also emphasized that Ethiopia is free to use ports in Mogadishu, Berbera, Djibouti, and Assab without the need to control them, as long as the sovereignty of the host nations is respected.
“I believe Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed now understands that he cannot achieve his claims by force,” Guelleh said. “Ethiopia can peacefully use the ports of Assab, Djibouti, Berbera, and Mogadishu without undermining the sovereignty of its neighbors.”
“Turkey’s mediation played a helpful role in easing tensions. We also told Addis Ababa directly that Djibouti is not Crimea,” Guelleh added, referencing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine—warning Ethiopia that it cannot forcibly take territory from Djibouti.
In recent years, Ethiopia has made efforts to gain access to the sea, including building a strong naval force. It has purchased warships and patrol boats and is reportedly preparing to launch a major naval command center based in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia is receiving support from Russia in developing its naval capabilities and believes it is essential to secure a military base along the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden to strengthen its regional influence and strategic reach.
Until now, there has been widespread astonishment at Ethiopia’s misguided idea of seeking maritime access by force. Legally, such an approach is wrong. If Ethiopia wants access to a port to offload its commercial goods, it can obtain it peacefully—in the same way that countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) use the Port of Mombasa in Kenya.
