Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed's Assertive Actions Raise Concerns for Africa and the World

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's recent claim that Ethiopia has the right to demand maritime access to a Red Sea port has alarmed countries in the Horn of Africa. Abiy's confrontational language and invocation of historical claims have raised concerns about the potential for conflict in the region. His rhetoric reflects a shift away from Western powers and aligns with the assertive approaches of China and Russia in dominating strategic waters. However, Ethiopia's internal challenges, including ethnic insurgencies and political unrest, coupled with its limited military capabilities, make such a maritime stance risky and could lead to further instability in the country and the region.