Picture a nation pulsing with history, culture, and ambition, yet cut off from the sea a critical lifeline to global markets. This is Ethiopia’s reality. Since 1993, when Eritrea’s independence left it landlocked, Africa’s second-most populous country has faced the uphill battle of relying on neighbors to reach the world’s trade routes. It’s like being a marathon runner with endless drive but a winding, costly path to the finish line. Every shipment, every export, every dream of growth is weighed down by extra costs and delays. But in August 2025, the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Turkmenistan gave Ethiopia a bold platform to rewrite its future, turning its landlocked challenge into a landlinked triumph.
A Nation Bigger Than Its Borders
Ethiopia is more than a dot on a map. It’s a land of ancient kingdoms, vibrant markets, and over 120 million people buzzing with energy. Addis Ababa, the capital, hums with life from street vendors hawking injera to tech startups chasing big ideas. But without a coastline, over 95 percent of Ethiopia’s trade flows through foreign ports, mainly Djibouti’s. This dependency comes at a steep price: shipping costs up to 50 percent more than for coastal nations, thanks to transit fees, border delays, and bureaucratic hurdles. Every year, Ethiopia spends nearly USD three billion navigating these ports, money that could build schools, clinics, or roads to connect its people.
These costs hit home hard. A farmer in Oromia pays more for fertilizer. A shopkeeper in Addis faces pricier imports. A family in Amhara stretches their budget for essentials. Being landlocked isn’t just geography; it’s a daily struggle felt by every Ethiopian. Yet, Ethiopia’s spirit is unbreakable, its vision bold, and LLDC3 was the stage to prove it.
LLDC3: A Turning Point for Ethiopia
In August 2025, Turkmenistan hosted LLDC3, a gathering of leaders from 32 landlocked developing countries, all united by a shared challenge: thriving without a coast. Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Alemu Sime, stood tall, carrying the hopes of millions. The conference delivered the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034), a roadmap to ease the burdens of landlocked nations. For Ethiopia, this was a golden opportunity, aligning seamlessly with its Ten-Year Development Plan and Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, which focus on boosting trade, building infrastructure, and embracing digital innovation.
At LLDC3, Ethiopia didn’t just ask for change, it demanded it. Minister Sime called for equal maritime rights, urging the world to rethink how landlocked nations access the sea. It’s about more than ports; it’s about economic freedom, environmental security, and a voice in global affairs. The Awaza Programme responded with bold solutions: smoother trade routes, stronger infrastructure, digital tools, and increased funding to unlock the potential of countries like Ethiopia. This was Ethiopia’s moment to lead, and it seized it with conviction.
Clearing the Way for Trade
Trade is Ethiopia’s lifeline, but it’s like navigating a maze. Goods cross borders, face customs checks, and hit delays, all while costs pile up. The Awaza Programme’s UN Panel on Freedom of Transit , a key LLDC3 outcome, promises to change that by simplifying customs, standardizing rules, and speeding up cross-border trade. For Ethiopia, reliant on neighbors like Djibouti, Somalia, and someday Eritrea, this could mean lower costs and faster market access. Picture trucks gliding from Addis to a port, free of endless paperwork or surprise fees. For exporters, this means competing globally. For consumers, it means cheaper goods.
This isn’t just logistics, it’s opportunity. Ethiopia’s coffee farmers, growing world-class beans, could reach buyers faster. Textile makers in Hawassa could ship clothes to Europe affordably. LLDC3’s vision is clear: trade should empower people, not hold them back. Ethiopia is ready to make that vision real.
Building the Roads to Progress
If trade is the lifeblood, infrastructure is the backbone. Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway has already slashed transit times and costs, but the country needs more: better roads linking rural farmers to cities, bigger dry ports to handle goods, and modern customs systems to keep trade flowing. LLDC3’s Awaza Programme opens the door to funding and expertise to build these paved roads, bustling railways, and ports that carry not just goods but hope for a brighter future.
Digital infrastructure is just as crucial. Ethiopia’s youth over 60 percent under 25 are tech-savvy and eager for progress. LLDC3’s push for digital trade tools, like online customs, shipment tracking, and e-commerce platforms, can transform how Ethiopia does business. Imagine a small shop in Bahir Dar selling crafts to London buyers or a Sidama farmer checking global prices on a smartphone. These are within reach, and LLDC3’s commitments are the spark to make them happen.
Breaking Free from One Port
Relying on Djibouti alone is like having a single key to your home if it’s lost, you’re stuck. Ethiopia felt this risk and acted boldly in 2024, signing a deal with Somaliland to access the Berbera port on the Red Sea. With UAE backing, Berbera is becoming a modern trade hub, giving Ethiopia a new gateway. The deal also gave Somaliland a stake in Ethiopian Airlines, tying the regions together through ships, planes, and shared dreams.
Ethiopia’s not stopping there. It’s exploring Kenya’s Lamu Port, part of the LAPSSET Corridor, and Sudan’s Port Sudan. Each new route adds resilience, like extra roads to a village, ensuring trade keeps flowing no matter what. These partnerships, born from LLDC3’s spirit of cooperation, are about more than logistics; they’re about building trust across borders, something Ethiopia values deeply.
The Dream of Assab
For Ethiopians, the port of Assab, just 60 kilometers from the border, is more than a harbor; it’s a piece of the nation’s heart. Once Ethiopia’s main gateway, Assab was lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993. The 2018 peace deal brought hope of reviving trade through Assab, but border disputes and mistrust have kept it out of reach. Ethiopia has offered incentives, like airline shares, but Eritrea remains cautious.
LLDC3 highlighted a missed opportunity: Ethiopia hasn’t ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) , which could strengthen its case for access. For now, reopening Assab hinges on patient diplomacy, like nurturing a fragile bond. To Ethiopians, Assab is more than a port; it’s a symbol of reconciliation and a dream of what could be.
If Ethiopia harnesses LLDC3’s opportunities and secures new port access, the impact could be transformative. Lower shipping costs will help exporters from coffee to leather to flowers compete globally. Cheaper imports will ease the burden on families. New roads, rails, and ports will attract investors, spark industries, and create jobs for Ethiopia’s youth. Digital trade tools will empower farmers and small businesses to reach global markets.
Multiple ports mean security if one route falters, others step in, giving Ethiopia leverage and stability. Stronger ties with neighbors will boost Ethiopia’s leadership in African trade initiatives like the AfCFTA while fostering peace. These gains, rooted in LLDC3’s vision, could lift millions out of poverty, open doors for women and youth, and rewrite Ethiopia’s story from one of limits to one of possibility.
A Landlinked Nation Soars
Ethiopia can’t change its map, but it can change its destiny. At LLDC3, it stood tall, demanding a world where landlocked nations aren’t left behind. The Awaza Programme offers the tools for better trade, stronger infrastructure, and digital innovation to make that real. Ethiopia’s building bridges through Berbera, Lamu, and beyond, while keeping the dream of Assab alive.
This isn’t a nation trapped by geography. It’s a landlinked powerhouse, weaving connections across Africa and the world. With grit, partnerships, and LLDC3’s momentum, Ethiopia is charging toward a future where its people are defined not by borders but by their unstoppable spirit. The journey has begun, and Ethiopia is ready to soar.
(Theódros Tadesse is a seasoned journalist with extensive experience across various media outlets. He has also served as a communications manager in multiple organizations. Currently, he is the Communications Consultant and Deputy CEO at The Missing Link Communication Consultancy.)
Contributed Theódros Tadesse Ayele
