Ethiopia's Dependency on Djibouti Port and Its Structural Risks

Over 95 percent of Ethiopia's maritime trade relies on the Port of Djibouti, creating a single-corridor dependency. Analysts highlight that this vulnerability exposes Ethiopia to logistical bottlenecks, congestion, and the impacts of regional conflicts like those in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The reliance on this route contributes to significant costs regarding tariffs, docking fees, and logistics, which further strains the country's limited foreign currency reserves. This structural fragility has persisted since Eritrea's independence in 1993, forcing the nation to depend heavily on a single gateway for its international trade needs.