Ethiopia has voiced serious concerns, accusing Eritrea of actively preparing for war against it. This accusation, made in conjunction with an opposition group, highlights the growing tensions between the two neighbouring nations regarding control over the crucial Red Sea access.
The accusation was detailed in a letter from Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The letter claims that Eritrea’s involvement has become increasingly apparent in recent months, suggesting a coordinated effort to destabilize Ethiopia.
While Eritrea has yet to officially respond to the allegations, the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated significantly. Ethiopia’s push to regain access to the Red Sea, a move that Eritrea views with alarm given its own historical ties to the coastline acquired upon independence, has become a significant point of contention.
The letter further alleges that Eritrea, in league with a hardline faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), is actively involved in “funding, mobilizing, and directing armed groups” within Ethiopia’s Amhara region. These groups, known as Fano, have been in conflict with the federal government. The accusation suggests that Eritrea’s actions are a strategic move to prevent Ethiopia from launching any military action aimed at securing Red Sea ports.
The history between Ethiopia and Eritrea is marked by conflict, including a border war from 1998 to 2000 that resulted in tens of thousands of casualties. While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ascent to power in 2018 initially eased relations and fostered an alliance with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, these ties have since frayed, with Red Sea access emerging as a key flashpoint.
The foreign ministry has been approached for comment regarding the letter’s authenticity, as it circulates widely on social media among Ethiopian government supporters. The TPLF faction, led by Debretsion Gebremichael, currently governs Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which shares a border with Eritrea. This faction accuses the Ethiopian government of not fully upholding a 2022 peace deal and alleges collusion with another TPLF faction. Eritrea’s involvement on Ethiopia’s side during the Tigray conflict, and its subsequent exclusion from the peace agreement, has fueled these accusations of an emerging alliance with the Debretsion-led TPLF faction.
Adding to the regional instability, Ethiopia is also grappling with a severe conflict in its Amhara region. The Fano militias, who were once allies of Abiy’s government against the TPLF, have resisted disarmament and are now reportedly collaborating with Eritrean and TPLF hardliners to challenge the federal government, including alleged attempts to seize the town of Woldiya.
Ethiopia’s drive for Red Sea access, which began in October 2023, stems from its argument that it wrongly ceded port control to Eritrea at the time of its independence. Recent statements from Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske Selassie, emphasizing the importance of the Red Sea and River Nile for Ethiopia’s existence, have drawn a strong rebuke from Eritrea’s Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, who described the rhetoric as “too crass and pathetic to sell” and “bizarre and mind-boggling.”