Ethiopia: 'Ethiopia's Return to a Sea Port Is Inevitable': Navy Commander Calls for Regional Maritime Cooperation

What the report says

Ethiopian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kindu Gezu has used a regional maritime security forum in Addis Ababa to argue that Ethiopia’s eventual access to a sea port is unavoidable and should be pursued through dialogue and cooperation with neighboring states. His remarks came after a two-day gathering organized by the Ethiopian Navy Headquarters and supported by the European Union, according to the article published by Addis Standard and distributed by AllAfrica.

The forum brought together naval commanders and representatives from Yemen, Oman, Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland to compare experiences and discuss joint approaches to maritime search and rescue and broader security concerns. Kindu said the meeting was the first of its kind in Ethiopia focused on regional maritime search and rescue planning, and he presented it as evidence of the navy’s growing role in regional and continental security affairs.

The discussion also touched on rising risks around the Strait of Hormuz, which Kindu said could have wider regional effects. He argued that no single country can manage maritime security alone and called for countries to combine capabilities to address shared threats and keep sea routes safe.

Ethiopian Navy Deputy Commander for Operations Commodore Jemal Tufisa said the forum created practical steps for cooperation, including information sharing, identifying problem areas and joint exercises. Other participants, including a search and rescue expert and the manager of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, praised the initiative and said they expected continued cooperation.