TITLE:
Evolving Ethio-Gulf Economic and Political Relations: The Challenges and Opportunities
AUTHORS:
Bekele Jemallu Jenber
KEYWORDS:
Ethiopia, Ethio-Gulf, GCC, Political Relations, Economic Relations
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.9 No.10,
October
27,
2021
ABSTRACT: Despite historical and religious ties, geographical proximity, and other
opportunities for mutual benefit, the overall relations between Ethiopia and
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have remained ambivalent for many
years. This study examines Ethiopia’s
economic and political relations with the Gulf countries since 2000 and the
challenges that hindered and opportunities that can further improve their
relationship. The study argues that while their economic relations have been
developing steadily over the past two
decades, especially since the political transition in Ethiopia in 2018, their
political relations remained weak. Their relationship is not based on evenly
balanced mutual dependence; rather it is asymmetric as the Gulf countries are
relatively less dependent in the interdependence relationship. The study also
finds out that the perception of the Gulf countries’ elites considering
Ethiopia as a Christian empire and Ethiopian elites’ skepticism of the Arab
world due to past hostile political relations; the GCC countries’ support of
Egypt in the Nile disputes; and mistreatment of Ethiopian migrants in some GCC
countries are among the key challenges undermining their relations.