PM fostering foreign relation, economic integration
Gebre-Michael Asgedom
Helina Alemu is a student of international relation at Addis Ababa University.She suggested that the election of PM Abiy has ensued a frenzy of activities including reinforcing diplomatic relation between neighboring countries. She said the past three weeks had seen rush of diplomatic activities and leaders shuttling to and from Addis Ababa.
She said she bet there is no Ethiopian leader that had visited many neighboring countries and Saudi Arabia within a span of a month or so. It implies the new administration is interested to abet more neighborly relation and foster economic development (as the pillar of Ethiopia’s foreign relation policy is based on thriving peaceful co-existence and building rock-solid economic diplomacy that benefits the endeavor of country’s poverty alleviation).
Helina stressed on the issue that the PM has discussed many issues with the leaders of Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia. His main focus was on establishing strong economic relation, investment and enhancing development, particularly inter-connecting east Africa region through development facilities (electricity, road and rail way transport facilities and jointly building new ports).
Mainly, Ethiopia’s move to diversify its access to international water gates and reduce its reliance on a single port (Djibouti) is commendable. In view of supporting its growing economy and sustaining its speedy pace, she said she appreciates Ethiopia’s push for owning sea port and curtailing expenses being consumed by foreign port services.
Indeed, realizing its effort to open up more ports and build transport facilities may motivate all countries to develop more infrastructures, open up markets and jolt up economic activities of towns along the ports and transport corridors (hence it may benefit many people in various countries).
PM Abiy Ahmed had visited Saudi Arabia on May 19, 2018, based on invitation request forwarded by Saudi King, Salman bin Abdul-Aziz. According to, embassy outlets in, the two heads had discussed about trade, investment, peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East and the role the two countries could play to enhance peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.
Most importantly, the two leaders had discussed about bi-lateral relation, trade, investment and economic cooperation. Similarly, the issue related to the flow of labor from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia was among the subjects high on the agenda; both had discussed on the issue of Ethiopian migrants and domestic house helpers living in Saudi Arabia.
Following the visit and request of PM Abiy, the Saudi king had ordered release of 1,000 Ethiopian prisoners and these individuals are expected to be repatriated after all legal processes have been finalized. Similarly, his visit has helped to release many Ethiopian prisoners in neighboring countries. Over all, it could be said that the visit of the PM to Saudi Arabia and all Ethiopia’s neighbors was successful; at least it has helped to facilitate release of Ethiopian prisoners jailed in respective countries.
Similarly, the PM had visited Djibouti on April 28, 2018. According to international media houses, in what was his first foreign trip since taking office, Abiy met with Djiboutian president Omar Guelleh. The two leaders had discussed on bi-lateral relations as well as regional security issues of mutual interest to their respective countries and the Horn of Africa region at large.
The PM, while addressing the Djiboutian parliament, stressed that the relation of Ethiopia and Djibouti has grown warmer with time. The two countries have the most close relation as Djibouti is dependent on its port service being provided to Ethiopia and Ethiopia relying on Djibouti for most of its port-related services(since Ethiopia opted for Djibouti port after the border conflict with Eritrea in 1998).
Taking various economic activities in to account, Ethiopia and Djibouti are enjoying many social and economic co-operations and are mentioned as a beacon of strong regional integrations in the continent. A case in point, both countries have got linked with optical fiber cable, electric, water and modern electrical railway and have agreed on several upcoming co-operations including the construction of natural gas pipelines and facilitating joint customs facility( in addition to opening school for Ethiopian community in Djibouti city).
It could be said that the PM making his first foreign visit to Djibouti is a great move. As there are misguided beliefs both by ruling party and the opposition for long time that the government prioritizes diplomatic relation with Western and super powers over immediate neighbors. And his visit may help rule out mistaken beliefs and strengthen the ties of Ethiopia with its longstanding neighbors and port providers.
In reality, the PM managed to confirm that Ethiopia needs its neighbors more than the far-flung countries, no matter how powerful and rich they are. Moreover, Ethiopia believes there is more economic and security benefit from strengthening relation with neighbors. So, Ethiopia will continue enriching its economic cooperation and diplomatic relation with its neighbors.
In line with this, it could be understood that the new PM is keen on burgeoning bilateral relations with Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan and widen the horizon of Ethiopia’s port access to its growing economy (even now, he has called on Eritrean leaders to facilitate more options for rapprochement and thaw the strained relation of the two countries that had been marred by border conflict since 1998).
Fortunately, the spirit of regional integration and cooperation is blooming in the region with Ethiopia becoming trailblazer of unparalleled cooperation and regional economic integration through supply of electricity to Sudan and Djibouti. Hence, the PM expressed Ethiopia’s commitment to work closely on common issues, promote economic relations in the region and speeding up poverty alleviation efforts.
Likewise, currently Ethiopia is pressing hard for region-wide economic integration with Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti and materializing it with joint investments and infrastructure construction like road and railway. It has made its unwavering stand clear that it wants the region to be interconnected via diversified modes of transport including air and surface transport.
It has also proposed development of ports and energy projects. Hence, it could be said that Prime Minister’s visit to Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti would help further strengthen Ethiopia’s relation with its neighbors and forge meaningful economic cooperation. Tangibly, there are clues that these countries have keen interest to work with Ethiopia and open up their borders for common markets and effect feasible economic integration at regional level; widening joint investments and put in place multiples of joint-venture projects for enhancing over all development endeavors in the region.
Evidently, Dr Abiy’s visit (and what has been reflected by him) to the afore-mentioned countries is a concrete testament about Ethiopia’s enduring commitment to help flourish regional peace and development. Under the new partnership, these horn countries will renew their commitment to work on new joint projects like railway, electricity and finalize pending development projects (for instance, connecting the hinterland of Ethiopia all the way through the Lamu Port of Kenya; both countries had struck an agreement two years ago and they need to rejuvenate their deal and finalize projects).
Particularly, Ethiopia and Kenya have expressed resolute commitment to the development of the Moyale City project (and help it become special economic zone) and the Lamu port of Kenya, under the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) corridor. It is part of the northern corridor development plan that embraces road network construction between Isiolo and Moyale parts of Kenya and railway line stretching from Addis Ababa to Nairobi; the agreements evidenced that Ethiopia is strengthening its economic influence by proactively securing several port deals.
Launched six years ago, the Lapsset project was estimated to cost at USD 20 billion but was shelved down due to financial constraints (each country was to contribute its share). And now, it is soon to be reinvigorated following reinforced diplomatic relation and economic discussion held between PM Abiy of Ethiopia and Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyata.
Ethiopia is working hard to sustain its accelerated economic development and this in turn needs affordable port services. The country believes that its development has been restrained by its overdependence on the congested Djibouti port, which handles more than 95 per cent of Ethiopia’s import and export activities. Seeing its booming economy and need to farsightedly alleviate problems, Ethiopia is negotiating to own more outlets with neighboring countries (to enable the country enjoy much needed port diversification).