ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia has warned foreign diplomats that it is prepared to take “strong military action” if what it described as a new regional alliance known as “Tsimdo” is established, escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa, according to military briefings presented in Addis Ababa.
Major General Teshome Gamechu told diplomats based in the capital that any attempt to operationalize the alleged alliance would be treated as a direct threat to Ethiopia’s sovereignty and would trigger what he called “serious military consequences.”
Ethiopian military officials said the briefing was intended to communicate Addis Ababa’s “red lines” to the international community, warning that external or internal efforts to formalize the group would destabilize the country and the wider region.
The warning follows the circulation of a video broadcast by Hidmona TV, a YouTube channel Ethiopian officials say is linked to Eritrean state media, showing Ethiopian opposition figures alongside Sudanese and Eritrean participants at a meeting reportedly held in Port Sudan.
Ethiopian authorities claim the footage indicates early coordination for a political and potentially armed alliance aimed at undermining the federal government in Ethiopia. Officials described “Tsimdo” as an externally supported initiative designed to fragment the country’s political order.
The development comes amid already strained relations between Ethiopia and Sudan, with Sudanese military leaders accusing Addis Ababa of backing rival armed factions involved in Sudan’s internal conflict, allegations Ethiopia has denied.
The situation has further intensified regional mistrust involving Eritrea, which Ethiopia accuses of supporting opposition networks, a claim Asmara has repeatedly rejected.
Analysts say the dispute reflects widening geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa, where shifting alliances between Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and other regional actors continue to reshape security dynamics.
There has been no independent verification of Ethiopia’s claims regarding the existence or operational structure of the alleged “Tsimdo” alliance, and the countries named in the allegations have not issued coordinated responses.
