Ask Onix
Ethiopia demands Eritrean troop withdrawal amid escalating tensions
Ethiopia has formally called on Eritrea to pull its military forces out of Ethiopian territory, labeling their presence an act of "outright aggression." The accusation comes as relations between the neighboring nations deteriorate sharply.
Diplomatic letter outlines allegations
In a letter addressed to Eritrea's foreign minister, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrean troops of advancing deeper into Ethiopia's northeastern border regions. The letter also alleged that Eritrean forces were conducting joint military exercises with Ethiopian rebel groups in the northwest and supplying them with weapons.
"The incursion of Eritrean troops and their collaboration with rebel factions are not mere provocations but acts of outright aggression," Timothewos wrote.
Historical tensions resurface
Ethiopia and Eritrea share a fraught history, marked by a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000 that claimed over 100,000 lives. A peace agreement was never fully enforced, and relations remained strained until a brief thaw in 2018, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Asmara. Abiy later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reconcile the two nations.
The détente proved short-lived. Eritrea backed Ethiopia's federal forces during the 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray, but recent developments suggest a rapid unraveling of that alliance.
Sea access dispute fuels conflict
A key point of contention is Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea, which Abiy has framed as an "existential" issue. In his letter, Timothewos suggested that talks-including discussions on Ethiopia's use of Eritrea's Assab port-could proceed if Eritrean troops withdrew.
Abiy has previously described Eritrea's independence, which severed Ethiopia's coastline, as a "mistake."
Accusations of atrocities and arms smuggling
Relations worsened last week when Abiy publicly accused Eritrean troops of massacring civilians in the Ethiopian city of Aksum during the Tigray war-a claim Eritrea has consistently denied. Ethiopia has also alleged that Eritrea supplied thousands of rounds of ammunition to Tigrayan rebels, an accusation Eritrea dismissed as a "false flag" to justify conflict.
Eritrea has yet to respond to the latest allegations but has previously denied any military presence inside Ethiopia.
Fears of renewed conflict
Analysts warn that the escalating rhetoric and military posturing could reignite hostilities between the two nations. Both sides have accused each other of destabilizing actions, raising concerns about a broader regional crisis.
