Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has firmly dismissed the possibility of armed conflict with Eritrea over access to the Red Sea, despite rising tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations. Speaking to parliament on Thursday, Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia would pursue peaceful dialogue to address its need for sea access, calling it an “existential matter” for the landlocked country.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns of a potential military confrontation after Eritrea reportedly ordered a nationwide military mobilization, and Ethiopia deployed troops near the shared border, according to diplomatic sources and human rights groups.
Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his efforts to reconcile with Eritrea, stressed that his government has no intention of engaging in conflict. “Ethiopia does not have any intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea for the purpose of gaining access to the sea,” his office stated in a post on X.
The two nations have a complex history, marked by decades of hostility followed by a historic rapprochement in 2018. However, relations soured again after Eritrea was excluded from peace talks to end Ethiopia’s 2020-2022 Tigray conflict, which saw Eritrean forces backing Ethiopia’s federal government against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
A renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea could destabilize the region, already reeling from the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing war in Sudan. Analysts warn that any escalation would risk reversing the fragile peace achieved in recent years and could lead to widespread suffering in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
As the situation unfolds, international observers are urging both nations to prioritize diplomacy and avoid actions that could reignite hostilities.
