Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Escalating Aggression, Urges International Action
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal diplomatic letter condemning what it describes as a “pattern of hostile provocations” by the Eritrean regime, accusing Asmara of repeated violations of Ethiopia’s sovereignty, the occupation of its territories, and sponsorship of armed insurgents.
The letter, addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio, details a litany of accusations against Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, calling for urgent international action to halt what Ethiopia sees as an ongoing threat to regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa.
In the strongly worded correspondence, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos Hessebon underscored that despite Ethiopia’s “proven commitment to peace,” Eritrea has exploited the security vacuum following the northern war to expand its influence, deploy troops inside Ethiopian territory, and fund rebel groups aiming to destabilize the state.
“These hostile acts constitute a flagrant violation of international law,” Gedion wrote, warning that the Eritrean regime’s aggression is undermining regional stability and endangering the fragile peace Ethiopia has been trying to consolidate since the Pretoria Agreement of November 2022.
From Peace Accord to Renewed Tensions
In 2018, hopes were high when Ethiopia and Eritrea signed the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship, ending two decades of formal hostility. Air travel resumed, borders briefly opened, and people-to-people connections flourished.
But those gains now seem a distant memory. Eritrea, once a cautious ally in the war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), has shifted course. The letter accuses Asmara of turning the northern conflict into a strategic opportunity to reassert its militarized ambitions, now allegedly working with a splinter faction of the TPLF and other proxy groups to wage fresh attacks during the current rainy season.
“Even when faced with these violations of sovereignty… the Government of Ethiopia has exercised maximum restraint,” the minister stated.
The letter also reveals that Eritrea has blocked Ethiopian Airlines from operating in its airspace, confiscated assets, and severed communication links a move Ethiopia views as deliberate sabotage of reconciliation efforts.
Calls for Diplomatic Pressure
Gedion called on Washington and the wider international community to take a firm stance against Asmara’s actions. The message is clear: Ethiopia wants Eritrea’s troops to withdraw from occupied areas and for the regime to stop funding anti-government insurgencies.
While asserting its right under international law to self-defense, Ethiopia emphasized its desire for peaceful solutions.
“Ethiopia continues to stand firm… in its pursuit of peaceful and mutually beneficial avenues,” the minister assured.
This appeal to the U.S. comes at a sensitive time. The Horn of Africa remains on the brink, with conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, and within Ethiopia itself still unresolved. Analysts warn that renewed Eritrean-Ethiopian tensions could trigger another deadly spiral of violence.
A Test for Regional Diplomacy
The statement also highlights the complex role Eritrea plays in the region — a state often accused of acting unilaterally and militarily, yet rarely held accountable. Observers suggest that Ethiopia’s public diplomatic outreach marks a turning point, potentially opening the door for greater multilateral pressure on Eritrea.
So far, the Eritrean government has not publicly responded to the letter, and regional observers remain cautious. But as Ethiopia makes its case to key international allies, all eyes are once again on the Red Sea frontlines and on whether diplomacy can rein in the ambitions of Africa’s most secretive regime.
