Ethiopia and Eritrea are exchanging allegations of aggression as renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia raises fears that the conflict in Tigray could develop into a wider regional war.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing Tigrayan rebels, while Eritrea says Addis Ababa is conducting an unprovoked war against it. Eritrean troops have reportedly been deployed in Tigray, and Ethiopian forces reportedly carried out drone strikes against them.
Reported military developments
A security source estimated that between 5,000 and 8,000 Eritrean soldiers are in Tigray. The reported deployment has added to concerns that the conflict may extend beyond the region.
Ethiopia’s military has reportedly pushed back Tigrayan forces and retaken Mekelle, the regional capital, as well as the towns of Shire and Adigrat. The developments are reported amid heightened tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara.
The available reports do not establish that fighting has spread beyond Tigray, but the possibility of a broader conflict has become a central concern. The allegations and reported military movements have also revived attention on the two countries’ unresolved strategic disputes.
Dispute over Red Sea access
Ethiopia has repeatedly called for direct access to the Red Sea. Eritrea views that demand as a potential threat to its sovereignty, adding another source of tension between the neighbouring countries.
The two states fought a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000. They had previously fought side by side, but relations later deteriorated sharply.
The latest accusations come as Ethiopian forces and Tigrayan forces remain at the centre of the reported fighting in northern Ethiopia. Claims regarding Eritrean troop deployments and the reported retaking of key Tigrayan cities remain attributed to the source and a security source.
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