Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Preparing for War Amid Rising Red Sea Tensions

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of preparing for war and collaborating with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to support armed groups in northern Ethiopia, escalating tensions over control of the Red Sea. Eritrea has not responded, while Ethiopia seeks negotiations to resolve the dispute peacefully.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of preparing to wage war against it, in what appears to be the latest sign of rising tensions between the two countries over control of the Red Sea. In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General on 2 October, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos stated that Eritrea was allegedly collaborating with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, known as the TPLF, an opposition group based in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. The Ethiopian government claims that this group has been engaged in conflict with federal authorities and that its collaboration with Eritrea poses a serious threat to Ethiopia’s stability.

The letter further accused Eritrea and the TPLF of funding, mobilizing, and directing armed groups operating in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. This region has seen ongoing clashes between the federal army and rebel forces, making the alleged involvement of Eritrea and the TPLF particularly concerning. According to the Ethiopian government, these activities are intensifying insecurity in northern Ethiopia and could escalate into a broader conflict if not addressed. Eritrea has not yet publicly responded to the allegations contained in the letter.

The relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea has been increasingly strained in recent months, a situation that revives a long and often violent history shared by the two nations. Eritrea gained control of the Red Sea coastline after achieving independence from Ethiopia in 1993, a strategic area that has been at the center of disputes for decades. From 1998 to 2000, the two countries fought a bloody border war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and left a legacy of deep-seated mistrust. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who took office in 2018, made efforts to ease these tensions and promote reconciliation, leading to a temporary improvement in relations.

Despite this progress, Ethiopia’s recent push to regain access to the Red Sea has put renewed pressure on its relationship with Eritrea. The strategic and economic significance of the Red Sea has made control over the coastline a central point of contention, raising concerns about the potential for renewed conflict. In his letter, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos emphasized that Ethiopia remains committed to peaceful resolution and expressed hope for negotiations with the Eritrean government regarding access to the Red Sea. The Ethiopian government appears to be seeking dialogue and diplomatic engagement as a way to address the dispute and avoid escalation, highlighting the country’s preference for negotiation over confrontation.