Arabic version: باحث يقول إن مصر تعرقل الدور الإقليمي لإثيوبيا

According to Allafrica, Abdulshakur Abdulsamad, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies and Regional Integration Initiative, said Egypt has sought to hinder Ethiopia’s integrationist role in the region and obstruct its development. He said Egypt fears Ethiopia’s accelerated development and growth could threaten its own position.

Abdulshakur described that fear as flawed, arguing that integrated development, cooperation and partnership could help countries pursue mutual benefits and interests. He said Ethiopia’s lack of access to the sea has adversely affected a broader integrated system that could support regional security and stability.

He said Ethiopian naval forces were present in the region before 1993 and that there were then no manifestations of piracy or maritime tension. In his assessment, the Ethiopian Navy had played a real role in maintaining security and stability.

The researcher said Ethiopia’s presence at sea could serve as a safety valve and a guarantee for security and stability in partnership with countries in the region. He pointed to a recent UN-sponsored meeting in Nairobi involving Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen that discussed ways to develop this area.

Abdulshakur said piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea escalated only after Ethiopia became landlocked. He called a sea outlet an indispensable economic, security and developmental necessity for Ethiopia, citing the country’s regional importance, population and developing economy. He said Ethiopia’s development growth and vision of shared growth and regional integration warrant such access.