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Eritrea Accuses Ethiopia of Intensive and Unwarranted Provocation Over Maritime Ambitions

Tigrai Online
Tigrai Online 2/18/2025

The Eritrean government has accused Ethiopia of launching an intensive and unwarranted campaign of provocation in recent months, citing the latter’s alleged ambitions to acquire access to the Red Sea. According to Eritrean officials, Ethiopia has pursued a “thinly-veiled” agenda of securing ports and maritime land, asserting that it would do so “legally if possible and militarily if necessary.”  

The accusations come amid increasing tensions between the two neighboring countries, which share a complex history of conflict and diplomatic strain. Eritrean authorities have condemned Ethiopia’s rhetoric, describing it as a direct challenge to Eritrea’s sovereignty.  

So far, Ethiopia has not officially responded to Eritrea’s claims. However, regional analysts warn that the escalating discourse between the two nations could further destabilize the Horn of Africa, a region already grappling with geopolitical tensions and economic struggles.  

Observers continue to monitor the situation closely, as concerns grow over the potential for renewed hostilities.  

Eritrea has strongly rejected recent accusations by Ethiopia’s former President, Mulatu Teshome, who claimed that Eritrea is fueling a new conflict in the Horn of Africa. In a statement, Eritrean officials dismissed these remarks as a false-flag alarm aimed at justifying what they described as Ethiopia’s “war-mongering agenda.”  

Eritrea’s Role in Ethiopia’s Internal Conflict 

Eritrean officials assert that Eritrea played no role in igniting Ethiopia’s internal conflicts but was drawn into the Tigray war in response to circumstances beyond its control.  

The Eritrean government claims that in November 2020, when the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched a large-scale attack on Ethiopia’s Northern Command, Eritrea provided sanctuary to Ethiopian troops who fled the assault. 

The TPLF allegedly had broader war plans that included attacks on Eritrea, prompting Eritrean involvement at Ethiopia’s request. 

Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s Minister of Information said “Eritrea’s involvement in the imposed war was dictated by these circumstances as well as the request of the Ethiopian Government.” 

Eritrea argues that Ethiopia’s government publicly acknowledged and appreciated Eritrea’s role during the war but has since engaged in what Eritrean officials call “backstabbing” by shifting blame onto Asmara. 

Border Allegations and Maritime Disputes 

Eritrea denies claims that its troops remain in Ethiopian border areas, calling these allegations a deliberate misrepresentation aimed at undermining the EEBC ruling. Officials assert that Eritrean forces have fully redeployed within the country’s internationally recognized borders.  

Eritrea also accuses Ethiopia of escalating tensions with an aggressive push to secure maritime access, including:  

A “thinly-veiled” campaign to acquire Red Sea ports, with Ethiopian officials suggesting they would pursue them “legally if possible and militarily if necessary.” 

A controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which Eritrea says has contributed to regional instability. 

Ethiopia’s ongoing internal conflict in the Amhara region, which Eritrea claims further destabilizes the Horn of Africa. 

Eritrea’s Final Position 

Eritrea maintains that the root causes of instability in the region originate from Ethiopia’s internal conflicts, not external influences. The government asserts that scapegoating Eritrea will not resolve Ethiopia’s challenges and urges Addis Ababa to focus on addressing its domestic crises instead.  

As tensions continue to simmer, regional and international observers remain concerned about the risk of further instability in the Horn of Africa. 

Source: Eritrean Minister of Information