Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Territory Occupation and Militant Aid

Ethiopia's foreign minister accused neighboring Eritrea on February 7 of occupying Ethiopian territory and providing material support to armed groups operating inside the country, escalating longstanding tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations. In a letter to his Eritrean counterpart, Gedion Timothewos demanded the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and an end to any collaboration with militants, particularly those active in the northern Amhara region. Eritrea rejected the claims on February 9 as false and fabricated, describing them as part of a broader pattern of hostile actions by Addis Ababa.

The accusations center on Eritrean troops allegedly crossing into Ethiopian border areas and aiding insurgents fighting federal forces. Timothewos wrote that these incursions represented "acts of outright aggression" and that repeated Ethiopian calls to address the violations had been ignored, leading to further escalation. He emphasized Ethiopia's commitment to dialogue, stating that Addis Ababa remained open to good-faith negotiations on issues of mutual interest, including access to the Red Sea through the Eritrean port of Assab.

Eritrea's Ministry of Information...