ADDIS ABABA, (HAN) — Ethiopia has once again accused neighboring Eritrea of preparing for a large-scale military offensive against Ethiopian territory, reigniting tensions between the two longtime rivals.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Ethiopian government alleged that Eritrea has been mobilizing troops and military equipment along the shared border, particularly in areas near the northern Tigray and Afar regions.
Addis Ababa warned that any “aggressive actions” by Asmara would be met with a firm response, saying Ethiopia “will not tolerate any threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said intelligence reports indicate that Eritrea is training and arming forces with the intent of destabilizing Ethiopia. “The government of Eritrea appears to be once again pursuing a path of confrontation instead of peaceful coexistence,” the statement read.
Eritrean officials have not immediately responded to the allegations. The two countries fought a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000 that killed tens of thousands of people. Although they signed a peace deal in 2018, relations have remained uneasy, especially following Eritrea’s involvement in the two-year conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region that ended in late 2022.
Regional analysts warn that renewed hostilities could destabilize the Horn of Africa, a region already facing political unrest, economic hardship, and ongoing humanitarian crises.
The African Union, headquartered in Addis Ababa, has not yet commented on the latest accusations.
