Date: October 18, 2025
Event Report: Samara University Hosts Strategic Forum on Ethiopia’s Red Sea and Nile (Abay) Imperatives
SAMARA, Afar Region – Samara University, in collaboration with the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) and the Defense War College, is hosting a high-level consultative forum today. The event, titled “The Two Water Systems and Ethiopia’s Strategic Independence: The Interlinkage of the Abay (Nile) and Red Sea, and the Strategic Role of the Afar Region,” is examining the critical nexus between Ethiopia’s national security, economic prosperity, and its access to these two vital water bodies.
The forum brings together senior government officials, military leadership, academics, and key regional stakeholders to deliberate on what participants describe as a foundational element of Ethiopia’s geopolitical and strategic future.
Key Analyses from the Forum:
Jafar Bedru, Director General of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, delivered a keynote address emphasizing that Ethiopia’s “existence and holistic prosperity are intrinsically linked” to the Red Sea and the development of the Abay (Nile) basin.
- Geopolitical Vision: Bedru articulated that Ethiopia, as the “nucleus of the Horn of Africa,” must align its geopolitical calculus with these two water systems. “As we draw closer to the Red Sea, our power and vision expand,” he stated.
- Policy Shift: The Director General highlighted a significant shift in national policy. He noted that for the past three decades, research and policy dialogue on the Red Sea and the issue of seaport access were “considered taboo.” He credited the post-reform government with ending this “era of regret,” making the discussion a national priority to secure comprehensive development.
- Beyond Access: Bedru framed the seaport issue as more than a logistical or economic matter, describing it as “a reconciliation with our own history, geography, truth, and national psychology.”
Dr. Mohammed Osman, President of Samara University, reinforced this perspective, stating that Ethiopia’s ambition for Red Sea access is a multifaceted issue “directly tied to history, geography, and regional security dynamics.”
Commodore Tegign Leta, Deputy Commander for Combat Support Services of the Ethiopian Navy, provided a defense and security perspective. He affirmed that Ethiopia’s comprehensive national interests are “strongly interconnected” with both the Abay River and the Red Sea.
- Naval Reconstruction: Commodore Tegign confirmed that the Ethiopian Navy, which was dissolved many years ago, is undergoing a strategic rebuilding process. He detailed that the objective is to construct a “strong, reliable, and technologically advanced” force in terms of manpower, organization, and modern capabilities.
The forum was attended by prominent figures, including Dr. Fethi Mahdi, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee at the House of Peoples’ Representatives, underscoring the high level of political and legislative interest in the subject.
This consultative conference in Samara signals a determined effort by Ethiopian institutions to make the strategic importance of the Red Sea and the Nile a central and continuous part of the national agenda, aiming to secure Ethiopia’s strategic independence and developmental goals.
Source: ANM (Addis Network Media)