ETHIOPIA ACCUSES ERITREA OF “ALL-OUT INVASION” AS FEARS OF REGIONAL WAR GROW

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Ethiopia has accused neighbouring Eritrea of sending troops deep into its northern territory, warning that it may have to defend itself as tensions between the two Horn of Africa countries intensify. The allegation, delivered in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, has heightened fears that a renewed confrontation could develop into a wider regional conflict.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said Eritrean forces had advanced as far as 60 kilometres into northern Ethiopia, including the conflict-hit Tigray region. In the letter dated Thursday and shared with news agencies on Friday, the government described the reported deployment as an act of aggression and demanded the withdrawal of Eritrean troops.

The Ethiopian government said the presence of Eritrean forces on its territory left it with no option but to protect its sovereignty. However, the claims have not been independently confirmed in full, and the two governments have offered sharply conflicting accounts of the escalating crisis.

ERITREA REJECTS ETHIOPIA’S ACCUSATIONS

Eritrea has denied Ethiopia’s allegations and accused its neighbour of pursuing a war of aggression. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said Asmara had shown restraint despite what he described as Ethiopia’s longstanding ambitions to secure access to the sea.

Eritrea has also rejected claims that it is supporting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which is part of an alliance of armed opposition groups fighting Ethiopian federal forces. The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrea of backing the alliance, an allegation that could further complicate efforts to contain the conflict.

Witnesses have reported seeing Eritrean troops in parts of northern Ethiopia, while a conflict monitor said drone strikes targeted Eritrean forces near the Tigrayan town of Adigrat. The details of the troop movements and the scale of any clashes remain contested.

A HISTORY OF CONFLICT AND FRAGILE RELATIONS

The latest dispute comes after relations between the neighbours deteriorated sharply. Ethiopia recently closed its embassy in Asmara and ordered Eritrean diplomats to leave, prompting Eritrea to announce that it was severing diplomatic ties.

The countries have a long and difficult history. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving Ethiopia without direct access to the sea. The two countries fought a devastating border war from 1998 to 2000, and relations improved in 2018 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office.

Eritrean forces later fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops during the 2020–2022 war in Tigray. Eritrea, however, was not part of the peace agreement that ended that conflict, and relations subsequently soured.

SEA ACCESS ADDS TO REGIONAL TENSIONS

A central source of mistrust is Ethiopia’s repeated insistence that access to the Red Sea is vital to its economic and national security. Abiy has said Ethiopia seeks sea access peacefully, but Eritrea views statements about ports such as Assab with concern, fearing they could signal a threat to its territorial integrity.

The renewed tensions are unfolding alongside fighting between Ethiopian government forces and opposition groups in Tigray and other northern regions. A further escalation involving Eritrea could make an already volatile situation more difficult to control and disrupt efforts to restore stability.

CALLS FOR RESTRAINT AS CONCERNS MOUNT

The immediate priority is to prevent military incidents from developing into open war. Diplomatic engagement, transparent communication and respect for internationally recognised borders will be essential to reducing the risk of further violence.

For civilians in northern Ethiopia, renewed fighting could bring fresh displacement, interrupted services and greater difficulty accessing food and medical care after years of conflict. The wider Horn of Africa could also face serious consequences if tensions spread across borders and disrupt regional trade and security.

For now, Ethiopia and Eritrea continue to trade accusations, and key details remain disputed. Whether the crisis moves towards de-escalation or a broader confrontation will depend on the actions of both governments and the effectiveness of international diplomatic efforts in the coming days.

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