At the same event, a young participant urged peers to prepare for a mission to seize Eritrea’s Assab port, reflecting growing nationalist sentiment among Ethiopia’s youth. Eritrea has not commented on the latest threats.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) - Ethiopia has sent a stark message to its neighbors and the world: the country is prepared to take all necessary measures to secure sovereign access to the Red Sea.
Gen Yimer Mekonnen, head of the Defence Force Training HQ, told a panel of youths in Addis Ababa that the army is “ready to pay any sacrifices” if peaceful negotiations fail. “Ethiopia’s quest for access to the sea is just, legitimate, and a matter of existence,” he said. While expressing hope for a peaceful solution, Gen Yimer emphasized the military’s readiness to act if diplomacy does not succeed.
At the same event, a young participant urged peers to prepare for a mission to seize Eritrea’s Assab port, reflecting growing nationalist sentiment among Ethiopia’s youth. Eritrea has not commented on the latest threats.
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The warning comes as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed unveiled a new “elite force” tasked with protecting coastlines from Somalia to Eritrea’s Massawa port. Speaking in Hawassa during celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of Ethiopia’s Special Operations Command, Abiy described the force as a transformative step for the military, shifting from land-focused training to advanced maritime and drone operations.
“Our mission is to build an elite force that averts wars and ends wars,” Abiy said. “Ethiopia has not been dared and will not be dared.” State television broadcast Ethiopian commandos performing parachute jumps into a lake, highlighting their unprecedented capabilities. The Special Operations Command reportedly specializes in drone reconnaissance and precision strikes on strategic targets.
Ethiopia’s push for sea access comes amid heightened tensions with Eritrea and ongoing internal friction with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Analysts warn that the combination of maritime ambitions and domestic conflicts could destabilize the Horn of Africa. For landlocked Ethiopia, access to the Red Sea is not just a strategic priority—it is framed as a matter of national survival.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.
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