Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed responded to questions and provided detailed explanations during the 6th round, 5th year, 2nd regular session of the House of People’s Representatives held on Tuesday (October 28). His address covered a wide range of national issues, including foreign policy, economic development, institutional transformation, and democratic governance.
On access to the sea, Prime Minister Abiy stated that the issue is a legal, historical, geographical, and economic matter that requires calm and thoughtful discussion. He questioned the legitimacy of past decisions that deprived Ethiopia of access to the sea, stressing that “When we ask who decided to deprive Ethiopia of access to the Red Sea, it is clear that institutions were not involved. It is therefore appropriate to question who made such a vital decision. Ethiopia cannot exist in isolation.” He further underscored that stressing that Ethiopia’s growth benefits the entire region. “What we seek,” he said, “is shared growth and mutual progress.”
Regarding the equitable use of the Nile, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Ethiopia’s right to utilize its natural resources, noting that the Nile’s resources are sufficient for equitable use by all riparian countries. He underscored that Ethiopia’s actions will never harm Egypt or Sudan, emphasizing that cooperation and dialogue are the best paths to mutual benefit.
Addressing the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the Prime Minister outlined its key provisions, emphasizing that it reaffirmed the constitutional authority of the federal government. He explained that the election held by the TPLF was annulled as illegitimate and that the regional administration and council formed through that process should be dissolved. An interim administration comprising all parties, he noted, should be established to ensure inclusive governance. The agreement also underscored the need to uphold the federal system of government elected by the people, disarm armed forces operating in the region, and facilitate their reintegration into normal life through rehabilitation. It further called for the restoration of interrupted services, the return of displaced citizens, and reaffirmed that only the federal government holds the authority to conduct foreign relations.
Turning to economic development, the Prime Minister elaborated on questions raised by Members of Parliament regarding major national mega projects, agricultural production, and inflation. He described ongoing work in gas, fertilizer, airport, and housing development as transformative, noting that domestic fertilizer production is expected to double agricultural productivity. He also highlighted the strong performance of the agricultural sector, with growth reaching 7.3 percent. Rice production increased from 1.5 million quintals to 63 million, while wheat output rose from 47 million to 280 million quintals within a short period of time, reflecting the success of Ethiopia’s agricultural reforms.
Regarding infrastructure development, the Prime Minister pointed to the new airport project as a flagship initiative. The $10 billion facility, with a capacity to serve over 100 million passengers annually, will position Ethiopian Airlines among the world’s leading carriers and strengthen Ethiopia’s role as a major aviation hub in Africa.
To curb inflation, he added, the government allocated 440 billion birr, 160 billion for wage subsidies and 140 billion for fuel subsidies, bringing inflation down to 11.7 percent in October, the lowest level since the start of the reform period. Efforts are continuing, he noted, to bring inflation down to single digits.
In the area of governance and institutional reform, the Prime Minister highlighted the expansion of the one-stop service initiative designed to enhance efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in service delivery. Currently, 18 centers are operational, with plans to expand the network to 100 within the fiscal year. On the upcoming 7th National Election, he affirmed the government’s readiness to conduct the most organized and democratic election in the country’s history, encouraging all political parties to prepare for active participation.
Turning to corridor development, Prime Minister Abiy underscored that corridor development is transforming perceptions of space and community. More than a thousand sports facilities have been built in Addis Ababa alone, encouraging youth participation and contributing to social cohesion and community revitalization.
On multi-sectoral cooperation, he emphasized Ethiopia’s successful transition from an agriculture-based economy to a more diversified one in order to achieve sustainable development. As a key example, he cited the Green Legacy Initiative, through which more than 48 billion seedlings have been planted with the participation of over 25 million Ethiopians annually, demonstrating strong unity and cooperation between the government and the people in advancing national development goals.