Shiferaw Jarso: Egypt Orchestrated Eritrea Secession, Denying Ethiopia Red Sea

• Former Ethiopian Water Minister Shiferaw Jarso alleges that Egyptian politicians historically plotted to weaken Ethiopia and deny it Red Sea access, driven by its role as the source of the Abay River.
• Shiferaw claims Egyptian foreign policy continues to undermine Ethiopia's strategic interests by exploiting internal divisions and supporting separatist forces.
• He links current sea access pressures to Eritrea's secession, asserting that Egyptian politician Boutros Boutros-Ghali played a pivotal role in advancing the separation to permanently weaken Ethiopia.
• The loss of Massawa and Assab ports has imposed significant economic and strategic costs on Ethiopia for nearly three decades, which Shiferaw calls a historic injustice.
• Shiferaw emphasizes that reliable sea access is an existential issue for Ethiopia, tied to national security and economic growth, advocating for peaceful, legally grounded, and mutually beneficial solutions.

Ethiopia cannot remain permanently disconnected from the sea.

Former Ethiopian Water Minister and Ambassador Shiferaw Jarso has brought to light long-standing claims of Egyptian political machinations aimed at diminishing Ethiopia's regional standing and severing its connection to the Red Sea. According to Jarso, these alleged plots were historically driven by Ethiopia's crucial role as the source of the Abay River, a vital tributary of the Nile. He contends that Cairo's foreign policy towards Ethiopia, particularly concerning the Nile, has consistently sought to undermine Ethiopia's strategic interests, including its maritime access, by fostering internal divisions and bolstering groups perceived as weakening the nation.

Ambassador Jarso specifically links Ethiopia's current challenges regarding sea access to the circumstances surrounding Eritrea's secession. He asserts that both external actors and domestic political forces played a part in Ethiopia's loss of its maritime and territorial interests. Many regional observers concur, pointing to Egypt's historical involvement in the Eritrean question and the broader struggle over Ethiopia's territorial integrity as a significant example of its divisive approach in the Horn of Africa. Cairo is said to have openly supported separatist movements and political initiatives designed to weaken Ethiopia and restrict its regional influence.

The eventual separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia stands as a pivotal event in the tumultuous history of the Horn of Africa, illustrating how external geopolitical calculations can profoundly alter the trajectory of nations. Historical diplomatic accounts indicate that Egyptian politician Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who served as acting Foreign Minister before his tenure as UN Secretary-General, was instrumental in advancing the Eritrean secession project. This move, it is alleged, was intended to permanently weaken Ethiopia. The subsequent loss of access to the Red Sea ports of Massawa and Assab has, for nearly three decades, imposed substantial economic and strategic burdens on Ethiopia, which Ambassador Jarso characterizes as a historic injustice with enduring national consequences.

Ambassador Shiferaw emphasizes that reliable maritime access is an existential and generational imperative for Ethiopia, intrinsically linked to its national security, economic expansion, sovereignty, and the broader stability of the region. He argues that efforts to limit Ethiopia's regional influence have persisted, despite its critical position as the source of the Nile, with its maritime isolation exacerbating existing geopolitical and economic pressures. This disconnection, he states, is unsustainable given the country's demographic growth, expanding economy, increasing import-export trade, its geographical proximity to the Red Sea, and its deep historical ties to regional ports.

Before Eritrea's separation, Ethiopia historically administered the ports of Massawa and Assab and maintained its own naval capabilities. Ambassador Shiferaw asserts that these historical connections, coupled with Ethiopia's contemporary economic significance and geographical realities, collectively strengthen the nation's argument for securing sustainable maritime access. He firmly declared that "Ethiopia cannot remain permanently disconnected from the sea," underscoring the urgency and fundamental nature of this issue for the landlocked nation.

Commending the Ethiopian government's ongoing diplomatic initiatives, Ambassador Shiferaw advocates for bringing the issue of sea access to greater international attention. He stresses that Ethiopia should continue to pursue this matter through peaceful and legally sound avenues, emphasizing dialogue, mutual understanding, and arrangements that benefit all parties involved, rather than resorting to confrontation. The former minister also highlighted the significance of Ethiopia's transboundary rivers for downstream countries, suggesting that the same principle of shared benefit should guide discussions concerning maritime access.

Furthermore, Ambassador Shiferaw raised concerns about the legitimacy of decisions that permanently alter Ethiopia's maritime position, particularly if made by a government lacking a strong popular mandate. This perspective introduces a crucial element of internal political legitimacy into the international law Red Sea access debate, suggesting that such profound national decisions require broad public consensus to be considered truly binding and sustainable. His remarks underscore the complex interplay of historical grievances, national security, economic necessity, and international legal principles in the Horn of Africa's geopolitical strategy.

This historical account of alleged Egyptian interference highlights deep-seated geopolitical tensions impacting maritime access and resource sharing in the Horn of Africa. Lawyers advising on regional investments or international law should note these historical grievances as potential drivers for future diplomatic disputes or international legal challenges concerning sea access and Nile water rights.

Source: Original reporting via ENA