ADDIS ABABA (Realist English). Ethiopia has accused neighboring Eritrea of collaborating with an opposition group in the northern Tigray region to prepare for a new military offensive, raising fears of renewed conflict in the Horn of Africa.
The allegation was made by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos in a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, excerpts of which were published on Wednesday by AFP and Ethiopian media.
According to the letter, Addis Ababa has evidence of “collusion” between the Eritrean government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) — a political movement that once dominated Ethiopian politics and fought a two-year war against the federal government before a peace agreement ended hostilities in 2022.
“The collusion between the Eritrean government and the TPLF has become more evident over the past few months,” the letter said. “The hardliner faction of the TPLF and the Eritrean government are actively preparing to wage war against Ethiopia.”
The document further accuses Asmara and the TPLF of “funding, mobilising and directing armed groups” in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region, where the federal army continues to battle local insurgents.
The message reflects the sharp deterioration in ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea, two countries bound by a violent and complex history. Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, fought a border war with its former ruler between 1998 and 2000, killing tens of thousands.
Relations improved after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, earning a Nobel Peace Prize for ending the decades-long hostility. During the Tigray conflict (2020–2022), Eritrea’s army fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces.
However, the relationship has since soured again. Eritrea has accused landlocked Ethiopia of seeking control of the port of Assab on the Red Sea — a claim Addis Ababa denies.
Prime Minister Abiy has openly expressed a desire for Ethiopia to regain sea access, lost after Eritrea’s independence, saying it is vital for national security and economic growth.
In his letter, Timothewos said Addis Ababa remains committed to “good faith negotiations” with Asmara and envisions “shared prosperity through integration that preserves the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both states.” He accused Eritrea of using Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions “to justify its sinister machinations.”
Eritrea — one of Africa’s most isolated nations, with a population of around 3.5 million — has recently deepened ties with Egypt, another country at odds with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and control of Nile River waters.
Regional observers warn that the growing mistrust between Addis Ababa and Asmara could destabilize a region still recovering from years of war.
