Ethiopia has demanded that Eritrea immediately withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory, accusing Eritrea of “outright aggression” and conducting joint military maneuvers with rebel groups.
The call came in a letter from Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to his Eritrean counterpart, citing concerns over Eritrea’s alleged support for rebels in Tigray and supply of weapons.
Eritrea has not responded to the accusations, but previously denied crossing the border.
The tensions are fueled by Ethiopia’s push for access to the Red Sea, which it considers an “existential matter”.
The two countries have a long history of conflict, including a devastating border war from 1998-2000 that claimed over 100,000 lives.
Relations eased after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s 2018 visit to Eritrea, but have deteriorated again due to disagreements over the peace deal and Eritrea’s alleged support for rebels.
