Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of preparing to wage war in collaboration with an opposition group, escalating tensions between the two nations over control of the Red Sea. The accusation, outlined in a letter from Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, claims that Eritrea and a faction of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have been "funding, mobilizing, and directing armed groups" in Ethiopia's Amhara region. This marks a significant increase in hostilities, with the alleged goal of preventing Ethiopia from regaining access to the Red Sea, which Eritrea took control of in 1993.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated since the historic peace agreement in 2018, which initially ended decades of tension. Ethiopia's push to reclaim access to the Red Sea has heightened concerns in Eritrea. The letter suggests that Eritrea, alongside TPLF hardliners, has been supporting the Fano militias, who have been battling the Ethiopian government in Amhara.
Eritrea has not commented on the allegations, and the Ethiopian government has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the letter. The accusation follows the intensifying conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region, where Fano militias have increasingly sought to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The situation remains volatile, with both nations on edge over the strategic significance of the Red Sea.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated since the historic peace agreement in 2018, which initially ended decades of tension. Ethiopia's push to reclaim access to the Red Sea has heightened concerns in Eritrea. The letter suggests that Eritrea, alongside TPLF hardliners, has been supporting the Fano militias, who have been battling the Ethiopian government in Amhara.
Eritrea has not commented on the allegations, and the Ethiopian government has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the letter. The accusation follows the intensifying conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region, where Fano militias have increasingly sought to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The situation remains volatile, with both nations on edge over the strategic significance of the Red Sea.
