Ethiopia and Somali region sign a deal giving Ethiopia access to the sea, leaders say
PBS NewsHourDEC 31 2023
Somalia Rejects Mediation With Ethiopia Over Somaliland Port Deal
Image copyright: Eric Lafforgue/Art In All Of Us/Corbis News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Neighboring countries, especially Somalia, should come to their senses and realize that granting Ethiopia sea access would be in the best interest of the entire continent, as it would promote stability and unity in the region as well as boost its economic growth. It's outrageous that a peaceful and mutually beneficial agreement has been met with such a hostile response.
Narrative B
When Ethiopian officials claim their country has the right to own access to the sea, they are merely replicating a narrative that is as old as modern Ethiopia itself — and that has a lot in common with Nazi Germany's imperialist "Lebensraum" notion. Given that international law doesn't recognize ports and territorial waters as subject to the legal title of a state, Addis Ababa must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors.