Ethiopia: The Landlocked Nation Surrounded by Eritrea, Djibouti & Somalia

Ethiopia is the country cut off from the sea by Eritrea (north), Djibouti (northeast), and Somalia (east/southeast).

Geographic Context

• Region: Horn of Africa.
• Area: 1.1M km² (27th largest).
• Population: ~126M (2024, 2nd in Africa).
• Capital: Addis Ababa (2,355 m elevation).

Coastal Access Loss

• Had Red Sea coast (Eritrea) until 1991.
• Eritrea independence (1993) made Ethiopia landlocked.
• Relies on Djibouti port (95% of trade) via Addis-Djibouti railway (2017) and highway.

Other Borders

• Kenya (south)
• South Sudan (west)
• Sudan (northwest)

Strategic Implications

Port dependence drives Ethiopian diplomacy (Djibouti base leases, Somaliland port deals, Kenya Lamu corridor). Navy disbanded 1996; rebuilding now for Red Sea access.