Ethiopia: Ivorian Former Prime Minister Recognizes Ethiopia's Legitimate Sea Access Aspirations

What the report says

Former Ivorian prime minister and current leader of Côte d'Ivoire’s Popular Front, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, said Ethiopia’s desire for sovereign access to the sea is a legitimate national aspiration. In comments to the Ethiopian News Agency in Addis Ababa, he argued that the issue should be handled through compromise and solutions acceptable to all sides.

The remarks were made against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s long-running push for permanent access to the Red Sea. Ethiopian officials, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, have repeatedly framed the goal as peaceful and tied to the country’s size, economic needs and geography. The report also noted Ethiopia’s historic links to Red Sea ports, including its past administration of Massawa and Assab before Eritrea’s independence.

Affi N'Guessan said the matter carries broader geopolitical significance and should be addressed with dialogue, anticipation and a focus on the region’s future. He also emphasized African unity and cooperation as important for stability and collective development.

In background terms, Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea became independent in the early 1990s, making port access a recurring issue in its foreign and economic policy. The article presents Affi N'Guessan’s comments as support for Ethiopia’s position, while stopping short of indicating any formal policy shift by Côte d'Ivoire.