Ethiopia Joins Regional Maritime Security Talks in Nairobi Amid Growing Red Sea Threats, UN Says

**Ethiopia Takes Part in Regional Maritime Security Dialogue in Nairobi**

*Addis Ababa, 28 August 2026* – Ethiopia joined security officials from Yemen, Djibouti and Somalia for a two‑day Maritime Law Enforcement Dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya, on 26‑27 August. The meeting, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aimed to enhance cooperation and information‑sharing in response to rising maritime threats in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the UN said.

The dialogue was supported by the European Union, INTERPOL, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Participants discussed ways to improve maritime domain awareness, operational coordination and joint responses to piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and narcotics trafficking.

Captain Kibru Mesfin, representing the Ethiopian Maritime Authority, emphasized the economic importance of maritime security for Ethiopia, noting that the majority of the country’s trade moves through the port of Djibouti. “Disruptions to maritime routes could increase shipping and insurance costs, delay essential goods and undermine export capacity,” Mesfin said. He called for stronger links between maritime authorities, coast guards and law‑enforcement agencies, and for more organized, harmonised systems for sharing maritime information among Ethiopia, Djibouti, Yemen and Somalia.

Abdurrahim Muhammad Ali, an official of the Djibouti Maritime Authority, echoed the need for closer information‑sharing, describing regional security threats as interconnected.

The UN highlighted that tensions in parts of the Middle East have heightened concerns about shipping security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, corridors that link regional economies to global markets. Disruptions in these waterways could affect supply chains far beyond the immediate region.

Ethiopia’s participation in the dialogue comes amid ongoing domestic discussions about securing access to the Red Sea. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly described sea access as a strategic, and later an “existential,” national interest. In a televised address to lawmakers in October 2023, he framed Red Sea access as an “existential matter” for Ethiopia. He reiterated the position in October 2024, stating that Ethiopia’s pursuit would be peaceful and would not involve war or force. In March 2025, he again affirmed that Ethiopia had no intention of invading Eritrea over the issue, emphasizing negotiation based on “give and take.”

In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland that envisaged Ethiopian access to the sea in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland. The agreement was opposed by Somalia, which regards Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory, leading to diplomatic friction between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

Although landlocked, Ethiopia re‑established a navy in 2019 as part of a broader effort to develop maritime capabilities and protect its long‑term national interests. Participation in regional forums such as the Nairobi dialogue provides a platform for Ethiopia to engage on maritime security, transnational crime and the safety of vital shipping routes, while also contributing to broader regional discussions on the governance of the Red Sea and adjacent waters.

Article and image source: allafrica.com