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Ethiopian leader breaks silence on Eritrean war crimes
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has publicly accused Eritrean troops of massacring civilians during the two-year Tigray conflict, marking his first acknowledgment of atrocities in the historic city of Aksum.
Mass killings in Aksum
In a parliamentary address on Tuesday, Abiy confirmed reports that Eritrean soldiers killed hundreds of unarmed civilians-primarily young men and boys-during house-to-house raids on 28 and 29 November 2020. The admission contradicts his earlier statement in 2020 that "not a single civilian was killed" during military operations in the region.
Witnesses and rights groups, including Amnesty International, had previously documented the killings, though Eritrea had consistently denied the allegations. Communications blackouts and restricted access for journalists during the war had limited independent verification.
Widespread destruction by Eritrean forces
Abiy detailed further abuses, stating that Eritrean troops looted properties, demolished homes, and dismantled industries in cities such as Adwa, Aksum, Adigrat, and Shire after allied forces seized control of Tigray. He revealed that Ethiopian envoys were dispatched to Eritrea during the conflict to demand an end to the violence and destruction.
Shifting alliances and regional tensions
The accusations deepen the rift between Ethiopia and Eritrea, whose relationship has oscillated between cooperation and hostility. The two nations fought a border war from 1998 to 2000, but Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for brokering a truce.
Alliances shifted again during the Tigray war, with Eritrean forces fighting alongside Ethiopian troops against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). However, Eritrea was not a signatory to the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended the conflict, and opposed the deal, arguing the TPLF should have been fully defeated.
Ethiopia's foreign ministry has recently accused Eritrea of switching allegiances in Tigray, raising concerns about renewed conflict in the region.
Flights resume amid fears of renewed conflict
Abiy's remarks coincided with the resumption of passenger flights between Addis Ababa and Tigrayan cities on Tuesday, following a five-day suspension due to clashes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters in a disputed area of western Tigray. The violence had sparked fears of a return to full-scale war.
An African Union envoy estimated that 600,000 people were killed during the two-year conflict, which ended in November 2022.
Red Sea access dispute adds to tensions
The latest diplomatic strain centers on Ethiopia's demand for access to the Red Sea, a strategic waterway currently controlled by Eritrea. Landlocked Ethiopia has sought maritime access through negotiations, but the issue has further strained relations between the neighbors.
