Ethiopia demands immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops as border tensions spike
ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia has formally ordered Eritrea to “immediately withdraw its troops” from Ethiopian territory, issuing a sharp diplomatic rebuke that underscores the most perilous turn in relations between the Horn of Africa neighbors since their 2018 peace deal.
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In a letter dated Feb. 7, 2026, addressed to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Asmara of “outright aggression,” detailing what Addis Ababa describes as a sustained incursion along Ethiopia’s northwestern border. The letter also alleges Eritrean forces are collaborating with local “rebel groups,” providing material support and conducting joint maneuvers to destabilize the area.
The demand follows weeks of hardening rhetoric over Ethiopia’s push for sovereign access to the Red Sea. In the correspondence, Timothewos linked a potential de-escalation to future dialogue on maritime issues, signaling that Eritrean troop withdrawal could open the door to negotiations over access to the Port of Assab.
Key developments
- Ethiopia alleges Eritrean units have occupied multiple border areas “for a considerable period” and have recently advanced deeper into Ethiopian territory.
- Addis Ababa accuses Eritrea of aiding insurgents inside Ethiopia, including through joint military activity, to foment instability.
- Ethiopia says a pullback could enable talks on Red Sea access, explicitly referencing prospective discussions related to the Port of Assab.
- The tone between the two capitals has grown more hostile than at any point since their 2018 rapprochement.
- Eritrea has not issued an official response; it has previously dismissed similar claims as “false flags” intended to justify conflict.
From wartime allies to adversaries
The rupture caps a volatile arc since the 2020–2022 Tigray War, when Ethiopian and Eritrean forces fought on the same side. Relations soured after Eritrea was excluded from the Pretoria Peace Accord that ended major hostilities in Tigray. More recently, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed publicly acknowledged atrocities committed by Eritrean forces during the conflict — the first such admission by Ethiopia’s leadership — further straining ties.
Why it matters
International observers warn that the intensifying “war of words” risks spiraling into a new conventional confrontation along one of Africa’s most combustible borders. Both nations are critical to Red Sea security and broader regional stability, and any escalation could disrupt trade routes and deepen humanitarian pressures across northern Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Despite the harder line, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said it believes the “cycle of violence and mistrust” can still be broken through diplomacy. The latest letter attempts to pair a military demand — the withdrawal of Eritrean troops — with a potential diplomatic offramp that includes discussions on maritime access, an issue central to Ethiopia’s economic and strategic ambitions.
What’s next
As of publication, Asmara has not publicly replied to the Feb. 7 letter. The absence of an immediate response, alongside sharply worded accusations from Addis Ababa, leaves the next move uncertain. Whether Eritrea signals openness to talks or doubles down on denials will likely determine if the crisis eases through negotiation or hardens into a new military standoff.
By Ali Musa Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
