Ethiopia Establishes Forum to Advance Nile and Red Sea Interests

November 10, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Ethiopian intellectuals and legal experts have established a forum to develop research, policy recommendations and international advocacy on the country's interests in the Nile River and Red Sea, according to Gazette Plus.

The Ethiopia National Interest Forum, which has secured legal recognition under the country's Civil Society Organisations Proclamation, seeks to coordinate contributions from scholars, lawyers and economists to support national discussions on water resources and maritime access.

Solomon Tefera, the forum's founder and managing director, told Gazette Plus in an exclusive interview that the initiative would complement government efforts by mobilising professional expertise and promoting evidence-based research.

He said the organisation would examine the historical, legal and geopolitical dimensions of Ethiopia's interests in the Nile and Red Sea, while encouraging professionals and citizens to contribute to discussions on issues traditionally addressed primarily by government institutions.

The forum's agenda includes preparing policy recommendations, raising public awareness and engaging with regional and international institutions, including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations.

Yonas Woldeyes, the organisation's director of media, public relations and communications, told Gazette Plus that the forum also plans to establish research partnerships with universities in Nile Basin and Red Sea countries, including Kenya, Djibouti and Sudan.

The proposed partnerships are intended to facilitate joint research and regional cooperation on water resources and maritime issues.

On the legal front, Woldeyes said the organisation would assess Ethiopia's interests within the framework of the country's Constitution, domestic legislation and applicable international law. Its research will also examine available international legal mechanisms, including the potential relevance of the International Court of Justice, subject to the court's jurisdictional requirements.

Woldeyes also identified Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's public engagement on maritime access as an important development in opening space for national discussion on the issue.

The forum's establishment comes amid continuing national discussions about Ethiopia's access to the sea and its interests in the Nile Basin. The organisation says it intends to bring together expertise from different professional fields and make the issues more accessible to the public, including farmers and the business community.

Gazette Plus reported that the forum views collective research and public participation as central to its efforts to advance Ethiopia's interests in the region.

Source: FSX Business News