The Ethiopia-Eritrea border conflict underscores the enduring impact of colonial-era decisions on contemporary political and economic landscapes. A focal point of this dispute is Assab, a strategic Red Sea port whose contested status has rendered Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous nation, landlocked. The legacy of ambiguous colonial demarcations, coupled with Eritrea’s unilateral claim to Assab upon its 1993 independence, has fueled tensions and hindered Ethiopia’s maritime access, creating economic and geopolitical vulnerabilities that persist today.

The roots of the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute trace back to colonial treaties between Ethiopia and Italy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notably, the Treaty of Wuchale in 1889, intended to delineate boundaries, contained discrepancies between its Italian and Amharic versions, leading to differing interpretations and subsequent conflicts, including the First Italo-Ethiopian War. Italy’s colonial ambitions further complicated matters, culminating in the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 and the establishment of Italian East Africa, which arbitrarily merged Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia into a single entity. Post-World War II, British administration introduced additional border modifications without consulting local populations or Ethiopian authorities, perpetuating contested claims that resurfaced with Eritrea’s independence in 1993.

Assab’s status is particularly contentious due to its strategic importance as a port city on the Red Sea. Historically, Assab was distinct from Eritrea proper. When Eritrea seceded in 1993 following a UN-sponsored referendum, it unilaterally claimed Assab without international arbitration or Ethiopian consent. This act violated established principles of state succession under international law, which generally respect pre-existing administrative boundaries during independence transitions. Unlike other parts of Eritrea, Assab had historically been administered separately and was predominantly inhabited by Afar communities who share stronger cultural and economic ties with Ethiopian Afar populations than with highland Eritreans.

Eritrea’s unilateral annexation of Assab left Ethiopia landlocked, a severe geopolitical disadvantage for a country with over 120 million people and one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. Before Eritrea’s independence, Assab served as Ethiopia’s primary port for trade, handling two-thirds of its maritime commerce. Losing access to this vital outlet forced Ethiopia to rely on Djibouti for its imports and exports at significantly higher costs. This dependency on Djibouti has also made Ethiopia vulnerable to external pressures and regional instability. Any disruption in Djibouti’s port operations could cripple Ethiopian trade.

Strategically, Ethiopia’s exclusion from the Red Sea has limited its influence in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors. The Red Sea connects Europe to Asia via the Suez Canal and is a hotspot for global trade and energy shipments. By losing direct access to this corridor, Ethiopia has been sidelined in regional geopolitics while Eritrea retains control over key ports like Assab and Massawa.

The unresolved ambiguities surrounding Assab’s status have perpetuated tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea for decades. The Algiers Agreement of 2000, which sought to resolve these disputes following the Eritrean-Ethiopian War (1998–2000), failed to address the root causes of conflict. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) based its decisions on colonial-era agreements without considering their invalidation due to Italy’s breaches or subsequent geopolitical changes. The EEBC also ignored historical administrative distinctions between Assab and Eritrea proper as well as the ethnic composition of disputed areas like Assab, where Afar communities have consistently expressed grievances over being governed by Asmara. The Algiers Agreement did not provide any mechanism for Ethiopia to regain sea access or negotiate equitable use of ports like Assab, an omission that has left Ethiopia economically disadvantaged.

The case of Assab exemplifies how colonial-era ambiguities continue to fuel modern conflicts. For Ethiopia, reclaiming access to the Red Sea is not merely a matter of historical justice but an economic necessity. International law provides avenues for challenging Eritrea’s claim over Assab based on principles of state succession, invalidation of colonial treaties, and ethnic self-determination. Resolving these disputes will require revisiting flawed frameworks like the Algiers Agreement with an emphasis on equity and mutual benefit. A comprehensive solution should address Ethiopia’s legitimate need for maritime access while ensuring stability for both nations. Only by confronting these historical injustices can lasting peace be achieved in the Horn of Africa.

By Yonas Yizezew. Researcher, Horn Review