Ethiopia demands Eritrea withdraw forces immediately from its territory, accusing Asmara of military incursions and cooperation with armed groups fighting the federal government.
The demand was delivered in an official message from Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to his Eritrean counterpart, amid a sharp deterioration in relations between the two Horn of Africa neighbors.
Ethiopian officials warned that recent developments signal a dangerous escalation following years of fragile rapprochement.
Official Message Warns of Escalation
In a letter dated Saturday, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said recent events indicate that the Eritrean government has chosen a path of escalation.
He formally demanded that Eritrea withdraw its forces immediately from Ethiopian territory and halt all forms of cooperation with rebel groups.
Timothewos described the actions as not merely provocations but outright acts of aggression against Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Conditional Call for Dialogue
Despite the strong language, the Ethiopian foreign minister said the cycle of violence and mistrust could still be broken through dialogue and diplomatic engagement.
He added that Addis Ababa is prepared to enter good faith negotiations for a comprehensive settlement if Eritrea respects Ethiopia’s sovereignty.
Eritrean Forces in Tigray
Eritrean troops have been present in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region since the outbreak of the war in November 2020, when they fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
A peace agreement signed in Pretoria in November 2022 between the Ethiopian government and Tigray authorities formally ended the conflict, but Eritrea was not a party to the talks.
Ethiopian authorities say Eritrean forces remain in Tigray in violation of the spirit of the agreement and now accuse Asmara of actively preparing for renewed conflict.
Eritrean Silence and Denials
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel declined to comment when contacted by AFP regarding Ethiopia’s demand.
Asmara has repeatedly denied allegations that it supports rebel movements inside Ethiopia and has rejected recent accusations as false.
A History of Strained Relations
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have long been marked by tension. Eritrea, a former Italian colony, was gradually incorporated into Ethiopia in the 1950s before gaining formal independence in 1993 after decades of armed struggle.
A bloody border war between 1998 and 2000 killed tens of thousands of people and froze bilateral relations for nearly 18 years.
Ties improved after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, a rapprochement that helped earn him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
The Tigray War and Its Aftermath
During the 2020–2022 Tigray war, Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopia’s federal army.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently accused Eritrea for the first time of committing massacres during the conflict, allegations Asmara has dismissed as lies.
The African Union has estimated that at least 600,000 people were killed between November 2020 and November 2022 in the war between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigray rebels.
Conclusion:
Ethiopia’s demand that Eritrea withdraw its forces underscores the depth of the current crisis between the two countries. With regional stability at stake, observers warn that further escalation could have serious consequences for the wider Horn of Africa unless diplomatic efforts succeed.
