Assab Should be Back to Ethiopia ??

[Jacaylbaro]

The Chairman of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) opposition party said the present condition of Assab port is unreasonable.

 

Bulcha Demeksa of the OFDM stated these comments about Assab to Jimma Times after indicating that he doesn’t expect the upcoming elections in Ethiopia to be any fairer than the previous ones. Last week, Dr. Yacob Hailemariam of the CUD opposition party made similar statements about Assab port’s importance to Ethiopia, as the deadline for the EEBC then approached, today leaving the Ethio-Eritrean border without being physically demarcated. Dr. Yacob said “the whole world needs to know that there is no way Ethiopians will give up their rights to Assab,” adding that Ethiopians will “forever pursue” Assab, until it is restored back to the country.

 

But according to the OFDM Chairman, the two countries can manage the port to benefit both of them. Currently, “Assab is of no use to Eritrea” said Bulcha adding that “Assab was within Ethiopia until Italy occupied a part (Eritrea) of Ethiopia” but it can still be used by both nations.

 

Similar views have been raised by some politicians who considered only the economic aspect of the Assab question. But some ruling TPLF-dissidents have emphasized the geo-political importance of having an outlet to the sea. Currently, there are dozens of approaches and at times conflicting analysis given by Ethiopian intellectuals about the country’s access to the sea. One of the most controversial ideas supported by the opposition is the notion of using the ethnic Afar people’ right to self determination up to secession as provided in the right of nations and nationalities enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Because of this proposal by the opposition supporters, the EPRDF ruling party supporters have often accused the opposition for advocating ethnic politics to annex Assab from Eritrea, while simultaneously condemning ethnic federalism inside Ethiopia.

 

 

Bulcha, whose party has run for and won some parliament seats in Oromia, however remarked a means where the two countries can share. Without this, he says the current status quo is wrong and believes in an international approach to solving the issue. “It would be one of the most unjust international decisions if it was decided that Assab should be owned and controlled by Eritrea alone,” said Bulcha.

 

Despite the continuous Assab debates, the current Meles Zenawi government has showed no interest in regaining the port and has often defended Eritrean positions. This has angered many Ethiopians and the climax of these Assab debates was following the 1998-2000 border war when Ethiopia took over much of western Eritrea and the opposition expected negotiations for Assab. Since then, almost all opposition parties have used the landlocked status of Ethiopia to ignite nationalism and increase anti-government sentiments among the public.

 

 

Jimma Times