Eritrea Refutes Ethiopian Conflict Allegations, Accuses Addis Ababa of Fuelling Regional Turmoil

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki (L) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (R) appear together during a past diplomatic sojourn. CREDIT / EPC

Mogadishu (AX) — In recent developments, Eritrea has firmly rebutted allegations by former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, who suggested that Eritrea is preparing for military conflict against Ethiopia. Eritrea swiftly labeled these claims as unfounded, attributing them to an attempt to deflect from Ethiopia’s internal challenges.

Teshome, speaking through Al Jazeera, pointed fingers at Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, accusing him of “stoking tensions in northern Ethiopia.” He suggested that Afwerki might be using the ongoing crisis between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government as a stage to expand his country’s influence. “Preventive steps must be taken to avert another devastating war in the Horn of Africa,” Teshome urged.

Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, was quick to dismiss these assertions on social media. He argued that “Ethiopia is the genuine source of instability, not Eritrea.” According to him, the allegations were a strategic ploy to shift blame and rationalize Addis Ababa’s broader geopolitical undertakings.

Despite the seemingly pacific 2018 rapprochement, scars remain from two decades of hostility between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Fresh tension burst forth when conflict ignited in Tigray in November 2020. There, Eritrean forces joined Ethiopian troops and Amhara militias in battling the TPLF, a brutal war that left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions.

President Teshome did not hold back, blaming Afwerki for seeking to destabilize the entire region. He condemned the Pretoria Agreement, a November 2022 deal that concluded the Tigray conflict, by alleging that Eritrea worked against adaptive peace processes. “Eritrea vehemently opposed our stabilization efforts,” he claimed.

“At the Ethiopian government’s behest,” Gebremeskel clarified, “Eritrean forces intervened.” He contended that they had “no interest in meddling in Ethiopia’s internal dealings” and insisted that the Pretoria Agreement was a matter purely for Ethiopia.

Adding to the intricate tapestry of post-Tigray war repercussions, economic relations have soured: Ethiopian Airlines canceled flights to Asmara last summer, following an Eritrean government directive. In a curious twist in October 2023, Eritrea hosted a trilateral summit with Egypt and Somalia, signaling potential shifts in regional dynamics.

Further controversies emerged with claims accusing Eritrea of negotiating with Ethiopia for “legal and military access” to a strategic seaport. Meanwhile, a maritime pact between Ethiopia and North Western State of Somalia—granting Ethiopia undisputed access to the Gulf of Aden—tension resurfaced. Eritrea, vocally opposing this deal, cautioned that such moves could stoke the embers of discord across the Horn of Africa.

“Whenever conflict sputters in the Horn of Africa,” Teshome remarked thoughtfully, “its tremors are felt by all.” His warning underscores the looming specter of a widespread regional crisis should diplomatic missteps prevail over peace.

But let us pause for a moment. Could old grievances be rekindling these tensions? In a place where histories echo through valley and dune, how does one untangle past from present? The Horn of Africa remains a rich tapestry, woven tightly with threads of age-old alliances and rivalries. Do these nation-states find truth in their shared history, as they scramble each to maintain autonomy and influence? It is a narrative made complex by myriad perspectives and strategic interests.

In navigating these treacherous waters, one wonders if echoes of Nyanya Kandajha, the great mediator in folklore, whisper among the winds: “Ponder the mountain; it moves not at another’s command.” In the intricate dance of diplomacy, a careful balance must be struck—even as drums of discord beat faintly in the background.

As the political plays unfold, eyes across the globe remain steadfastly fixed on this region—watchful, hopeful for signs of reconciliation over rancor.

Edited By Ali Musa

Axadle Times International–Monitoring