Prosper Okoye
Ethiopia has accused neighbouring Eritrea of sending troops into its territory and supporting armed groups operating inside the country, sharply escalating tensions between the former allies.
In a letter dated Feb. 7, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said Eritrean forces had occupied parts of Ethiopian territory along their shared border and were providing support to militant groups fighting the Ethiopian government.
“The incursion of Eritrean troops into Ethiopian territory is not a provocation but an act of aggression,” Gedion wrote in the letter to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and an end to all assistance to armed groups.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe accusations come as relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the end of Ethiopia’s two-year war in the northern Tigray region in 2022. Although Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia during that conflict, it was not a signatory to the peace agreement that ended the war, and ties have since frayed.
Gedion warned that continued cooperation between Eritrean forces and Ethiopian armed groups near the northwestern border risked triggering further escalation.
An Eritrean government spokesperson said officials were checking whether the letter had been formally delivered. Eritrea has not yet issued a detailed response.
Tensions have also been heightened by statements from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asserting that landlocked Ethiopia has a right to access the sea, comments that Eritrea, which controls key Red Sea ports, has viewed as a potential threat.
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Despite the sharp rhetoric, Gedion said Ethiopia remains open to dialogue if Eritrea respects its territorial integrity, adding that Addis Ababa is willing to discuss broader regional issues, including maritime access.
The exchange highlights growing strain between two neighbours whose fragile peace now appears increasingly at risk.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
