The Eritrean Afar National Congress (EANC), a political organisation representing the indigenous Afar people of Eritrea's northern coastal region, has called on the Ethiopian government to recognise the territorial rights of the Eritrean Afar people, Addis Standard reports. In an October 20, 2023 statement, the EANC responded to recent comments made by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who emphasised Ethiopia's strategic interest in securing access to the Red Sea. Abiy argued that Ethiopia has an "inalienable right" to access the Red Sea, including the Port of Assab. The EANC said that the coastal territories and resources of the Dankalia region, where Assab port is located, are the traditional homeland and legal property of the Eritrean Afar people under international law. The EANC said any unilateral action by Ethiopia to gain control over the Port of Assab, in collaboration with the current Eritrean governemtn, would violate international laws and compromise Eritrean sovereignty. The EANC's statement comes days after neighbouring countries rejected Abiy's comments. Eritrea rejected "any talk of excessive Ethiopian access" through Eritrean ports. Somalia rejected Ethiopian appeals to negotiate over potential Somali port access. Djibouti also asserted its territorial sovereignty, acknowledging Ethiopia's dependence on its main port at Djibouti while emphasising its status as an independent nation. Ethiopia has built the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) situated on the Blue Nile, a tributary of the Nile River. Egypt and Sudan have been vocal in their opposition to the building of the dam, but Ethiopia has said it is crucial for people, particularly those in rural parts of the country, to survive. Ethiopia went ahead with the last filling of the GERD, without the official approval of Egypt and Sudan, with whom the Ethiopian government has been engaged in ongoing talks.