Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of plotting war in alliance with TPLF hardliners

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of preparing to wage war against it in alliance with a hard-line faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front –TPLF, deepening tensions between the two neighbours over control of the Red Sea.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos alleged that Eritrea and TPLF elements are “funding, mobilising, and directing armed groups” in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where Fano militias have been fighting government forces.

Eritrea has not responded to the accusations, which come amid Ethiopia’s push to regain access to the Red Sea, lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993.

The issue has become a major flashpoint between the two nations.

Relations between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki have deteriorated since their 2018 peace pact, which once ended decades of hostility.

The Addis Standard newspaper reported that the letter also accused Eritrea and TPLF hardliners of backing Fano fighters in their attempt to capture Woldiya town in September.

Observers warn that renewed hostilities could plunge the Horn of Africa back into instability, as Ethiopia also grapples with growing unrest in the Amhara region.

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Noel Mkwaila

Noel Mkwaila is an award-winning profesional journalist based in Malawi with over six years of experience in the media industry. His work focuses on in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and storytelling that highlights key social, political, and economic issues, among others. Passionate about transparency and development, he has covered major stories shaping Malawi.

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