Ethiopia has accused neighbouring Eritrea of preparing to launch a war, signalling a major escalation in tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations over access to the Red Sea.
In a letter dated October 2 to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, alleged that Eritrea was collaborating with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), an opposition group based in northern Ethiopia. He claimed both parties were “funding, mobilising, and directing armed groups” in the Amhara region, where government forces continue to battle insurgents.
Eritrea has not yet issued an official response to the accusations.
The renewed tensions come amid a fraught history between the two countries. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, taking control of the Red Sea coastline—a critical access point Ethiopia has long sought to reclaim. A devastating border war between 1998 and 2000 claimed tens of thousands of lives and left relations frozen for nearly 20 years.
Although Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s 2018 peace agreement with Eritrea initially restored diplomatic ties and earned him international recognition, relations have deteriorated once again. Ethiopia’s recent calls for renewed sea access have heightened tensions, with Asmara viewing such demands as a threat to its sovereignty.
In his letter, Timothewos said Addis Ababa still preferred a diplomatic resolution but warned that Eritrea’s actions could further destabilise an already fragile region.
