In brief
Eritrea has countered accusations from Ethiopia of having troops on Ethiopian soil, deeming the claims as fabricated. This tension marks a significant moment in the historical rivalry between the two nations, which fought a devastating border war from 1998 to 2000. Ethiopia's recent demands for Eritrean troop withdrawal and allegations of supporting rebel forces signal escalating tensions.
Eritrea has hit back at its neighbour Ethiopia, describing a recent accusation that its troops had crossed into Ethiopian territory as false. This exchange follows a letter from Ethiopia's foreign minister demanding the withdrawal of Eritrean soldiers. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of 'outright aggression,' claiming the country is conducting military maneuvers with Ethiopian rebels in the north and supplying them with weapons.In response, Eritrea's government criticized what it called a 'spiral of hostile campaigns' over the past two years. The long-standing tensions date back to Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia three decades ago, leading to a brutal border conflict between 1998 and 2000 that claimed over 100,000 lives.Despite a temporary thaw in relations following peace efforts that led to the Nobel Peace Prize for Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018, recent events suggest a resurgence of hostility. Ethiopia's foreign minister warned of escalation, demonstrating that the fragile peace might be under serious threat once again. Key issues include Ethiopia's desperate need for sea access, as landlocked Ethiopia has seen Eritrean independence as a loss of vital resources. The current diplomatic friction raises alarm over potential renewed conflict, with Eritrea denying all allegations and attributing them to Ethiopian efforts to justify military aggression.
