By Gelila Adamu
Addis Ababa (AMECO) – Ethiopia has a historic responsibility to lead East African integration through shared infrastructure, commercial sea access and diplomatic dialogue, a senior diplomat has urged.
Speaking to the AMECO Africa, the veteran ambassador Tefera Shiawl said Ethiopia’s foreign policy must remain rooted in regional cooperation, mutual development and national sovereignty.
Addressing Ethiopia’s landlocked status, the veteran ambassador called for renewed regional dialogue to secure reliable commercial access to coastal trade corridors, citing ports in Djibouti, Berbera, Lamu and Mombasa. He argued that sea access should be framed as a shared economic opportunity rather than a political or security dispute.
On the Nile, the veteran ambassador emphasized that resources must be managed through principles of equitable use and shared benefit to prevent regional instability. He highlighted the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as an example of cross-border cooperation intended to supply clean electricity across the Horn of Africa.
Beyond regional bodies such as the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the former diplomat urged deeper bilateral engagement with global powers, including the UK, the US, China, the European Union and Gulf states.
He pointed to Ethiopian Airlines as a model for converting domestic capability into continental integration, noting its role in developing aviation operations across several African nations.
Connecting contemporary diplomacy to history, he noted that Ethiopia’s legacy of resisting external domination—from the Battle of Adwa to the Italian occupation—imposes a duty to remain an active participant in international affairs.