Eritrean representative responds to Ethiopian accusations during a diplomatic meeting at an international forum.
Ethiopia and Eritrea seem to be hurtling toward all-out war, with both countries mobilizing troops and equipment to their shared border in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. The development follows weeks of escalating rhetoric by both sides, including accusations by Addis Ababa that Asmara is providing support for rebels in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. Eritrea denied the accusations, alleging that Ethiopia is using it as a pretext to start a war. Following decades of frosty relations, the longstanding foes signed a peace deal in 2018 to normalize ties. Eritrean troops even fought alongside their Ethiopian peers during Ethiopia’s 2020-2022 civil war. However, relations took a turn for the worse after Addis Ababa excluded Asmara from the peace deal that ended its civil war. Since then, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly declared that Ethiopia, the most populous landlocked country in the world, has a right to sea access. Eritrea, which sits between Ethiopia and the Red Sea, views this as a threat.
Bloomberg