(Photo: Yemane G. Meskel/X)
In the often unpredictable realm of international politics, clarity is a rare commodity. It is in these murky waters that Osman Saleh, Eritrea’s Foreign Minister, found himself articulating his country’s sentiments—sentiments of perplexity and firm resolve, echoing the shared aspiration for peace yet exposing strains that threaten stability. His statement aimed to unravel complexities, address misconceptions, and highlight a need for mutual respect among nations.
During a critical briefing at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Asmara, Osman conveyed his thoughts to a well-attended assembly of resident ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, and UN agency heads. Such gatherings, though formal, are fertile ground for candid exchanges and reflections. Shared widely by Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, on X, Osman’s address aimed to dispel what he characterized as “false accusations”—allegations of Eritrea’s war preparations against Ethiopia, nuances regarding the Pretoria Agreement, and Ethiopia’s pursuit of maritime access.
He emphasized Eritrea’s military posture, asserting that the Eritrean Defense Forces had “redeployed to Eritrea’s internationally recognized borders” following the cessation of the two-year conflict in Tigray in November 2022. “Anyone that claims or suggests” other motives, he stressed, “is doing so to scapegoat Eritrea for Ethiopia’s internal problems.” He drew attention to those he deemed responsible—”former TPLF members” who had, according to him, “rejected the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) ruling” and pursued regime change in Eritrea to no effect.
Osman’s perspective on the Pretoria Agreement was decidedly non-interventionist. Describing it as “an internal affair of Ethiopia,” he affirmed Eritrea’s “no desire to intervene.” The portrayal of Eritrea’s involvement in the conflict between the Tigray Interim Administration and the TPLF, he said, was “categorically rejected.” This stance juxtaposes sharply with the view expressed by former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, who accused Eritrea of attempting to exploit TPLF divisions to destabilize the fragile peace arrangement, risking renewed conflict.
Last week, in a twist of regional diplomacy, Getachew Reda, the President of the Tigray Interim Administration, suggested that Eritrea was among those hoping to capitalize on potential discord in Tigray. His assertion, “I know the Eritrean government is one of them,” added fuel to the diplomatic fire. Osman’s dismissal of such claims strangely reflects a similar rhetoric; Yemane Gebremeskel labeling such allegations as an “audacious claim” aimed to “rationalize a war-mongering agenda.”
Layered over these accusations lies the dire warning from Lt. Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae, the Vice President of the Tigray Interim Administration, cautioning against the seeming inevitability of a war that could transform Tigray into a battleground anew. Can the ghosts of the past really be laid to rest, or do they linger to cast new shadows?
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator James Risch, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has sounded the alarm, remarking that any rekindled conflict in Ethiopia’s north harbors “catastrophic consequences.” His appeal for Ethiopia and Eritrea to “urgently de-escalate tensions” was not just a call for diplomacy but a reminder of the human costs so often tied to geopolitical games.
On the tangent issue of Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions, Osman articulated Eritrea’s bewilderment over what he branded “misguided and outdated ambitions” to acquire sea access via “diplomacy or military force.” Calling upon the international community to act, he underscored that such endeavors undermined “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbors.”
In the halls of diplomacy, voices clash, narratives diverge, and agendas intertwine. As we stand at the crossroads of conflict and peace, one must ask—are these struggles for strategic positioning mere echoes of a turbulent past, or are they voices navigating an uncertain but hopeful future?
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
