Eritrea urged to immediately withdraw troops from Ethiopian territory

Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Military Aggression and Supporting Rebel Groups

A letter from Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh Mohammed has accused Eritrea of occupying Ethiopian territory along their shared border for an extended period. The letter also claims that Eritrea is providing material support to armed groups operating inside Ethiopia.

The allegations were made in a letter dated February 7, and Timothewos demanded that Asmara withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory and cease all forms of collaboration with rebel groups. He stated that the incursions are “acts of outright aggression” and offered Ethiopia’s willingness to engage in good-faith negotiations on matters of mutual interest.

Eritrea has denied the allegations, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has made public declarations about Eritrea’s right to sea access, which some in Eritrea view as a threat. The two nations have a complex history, having fought a war between 1998 and 2000 before signing a peace deal in 2018.

The 2022 agreement that ended the Tigray conflict did not include Eritrea as a party, leading to tensions between the two nations. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting rebel fighters on its soil, while Eritrea denies these claims. The situation remains unresolved, with no immediate comment from Eritrea on the letter.

Source: Al Jazeera