Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of sending troops deep into its territory and warned that it must defend itself against an “all-out invasion,” escalating a confrontation between the former allies.
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos alleged that Eritrean forces, including mechanized units, had advanced up to 60 km into Tigray. His October 8 letter was addressed to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and circulated to other UN Security Council members, Reuters reported Friday. The letter described the incursion as a “blatant act of aggression” and sought international support for Ethiopia’s right to self-defense.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Gedion briefed UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed on what it called Eritrea’s “continued aggression,” demanded the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and urged a “clear and principled UN response.”
In separate talks with senior UN officials, Ethiopian State Minister Berhanu Tsegaye alleged direct Eritrean military involvement “across different fronts along the border” and called for the UN to unequivocally condemn the “flagrant violations of sovereignty.”
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected Ethiopia’s accusations on Friday, calling them “audacity and duplicity in their most extreme forms.” He accused Addis Ababa of pursuing a war of aggression for more than three years, citing statements by Ethiopian leaders about acquiring sovereign access to the Red Sea and taking control of the port of Assab.
There are fears that renewed clashes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters could plunge northern Ethiopia back into war. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which formed an alliance with six other armed groups seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, declared a “defensive war” last month. Its forces seized airports in Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, and the cities of Axum and Shire, prompting Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to the region.
On Sunday, the government-allied Tigray Peace Force announced it had retaken Mekelle following the TPLF’s withdrawal. The TPLF said it had decided to “temporarily leave” and operate from another location while continuing military operations.
Conflict monitor ACLED reported suspected Ethiopian drone strikes against Eritrean forces near the border town of Adigrat on Wednesday and Thursday. A resident told Reuters that explosions continued overnight into Friday.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan of supporting the rebel alliance. The three countries have rejected the allegations. Last week, Addis Ababa expelled ten Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara, prompting Eritrea to sever diplomatic ties. Eritrean troops previously backed Ethiopia’s federal army during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, which ended with the Pretoria peace agreement.
Relations with Eritrea have deteriorated over Ethiopia’s pursuit of sovereign access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia became landlocked when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, and Asmara views Addis Ababa’s ambitions as a threat to its sovereignty.
The African Union has urged restraint, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for dialogue to resolve the disputes between the Horn of Africa states and prevent further escalation.