Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Accuses Eritrea of Aggression and Calls for Troop Withdrawal
Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, has issued a strong demand to Eritrea, accusing the neighboring country of deploying troops across its territory and engaging in aggressive actions. In a letter addressed to his Eritrean counterpart, Timothewos alleged that Eritrea is conducting joint military maneuvers with Ethiopian rebels in the north and providing them with weapons, constituting 'outright aggression'.
The tensions between the two countries have a long history, dating back to when Eritrea separated from Ethiopia three decades ago. The countries fought a devastating border war from 1998 to 2000, resulting in over 100,000 deaths. Despite a peace deal, relations have been strained, and recent developments have raised concerns about a potential resurgence of conflict.
One of the key points of contention is Ethiopia's landlocked status and its demand for access to the sea. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emphasized the importance of this issue, describing it as an existential matter. He believes that Eritrea's independence led to the loss of a crucial port, which he considers a significant mistake. The Foreign Minister's letter suggests that if Eritrea's troops withdraw, the two nations could engage in talks, including discussions about 'the issue of access to the sea through the port of Assab'.
The situation has taken a turn for the worse with recent allegations. During the 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy accused Eritrean troops of massacring people in the city of Aksum. These claims follow reports of mass killings in the historic city in November 2020, which Eritrea had previously denied. In a shift of alliances, Ethiopia now accuses Eritrea of supporting rebels in Tigray who oppose the peace deal that ended the civil war.
Eritrea has denied these allegations, countering that Ethiopia is using 'false flags' to justify a war it has been seeking for two years. The situation remains tense, and the international community closely monitors these developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing tensions.
