Ethiopian Forces Reach the Eritrean Border and are Close to...

Addis Ababa (Caasimada Online) – The Ethiopian government forces reached the town of Zalambessa on the border with Eritrea on Tuesday, after pushing back the Tigray rebel forces from the area, amid growing concerns that the tensions between the two countries could escalate into direct conflict.

This military movement comes as international diplomats are working to prevent a new war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which are once again at odds over security issues and the dispute regarding Ethiopia's desire for access to a seaport.

Six sources, including four people connected to the local community, a diplomat, and an expert on the conflict, told Reuters that Ethiopian forces reached Zalambessa on Tuesday, a town with an estimated population of 15,000.

This town, located on the Ethiopian side of the Eritrean border, was previously held by Tigray forces, but federal government troops have recently been conducting counter-offensive operations to reclaim areas that were lost.

Witnesses and a conflict monitoring agency reported that Eritrean forces crossed the border last week and entered Zalambessa to support the Tigray rebels. However, it is unclear whether the Eritrean forces and the groups they were supporting were still in the town on Tuesday.

The ACLED agency, which records conflicts, stated that Ethiopian federal forces and the government-backed Tigray Peace Force took control of Zalambessa and the Fatsi area on Monday, as Eritrean forces crossed back over the border.

However, a spokesperson for the militia supporting the Ethiopian government did not confirm that federal forces had fully taken control of the city, while the Ethiopian military command and the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not respond promptly to requests sent.

The renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia began in September when a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks against the federal government.

However, government forces have since recaptured several towns, forcing the rebels to retreat to the north.

Ethiopia and Eritrea have filed complaints with the UN

This military development has further heightened the diplomatic tension between Addis Ababa and Asmara, as both governments have submitted letters to the United Nations Security Council accusing each other of aggression and inciting conflict.

The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrea of supporting the rebels fighting in the north of the country, claiming that Eritrean troops have crossed into its territory by a distance of 60 kilometers.

Addis Ababa stated in a letter sent to the Security Council that the presence of foreign troops on its land is forcing it to take measures for self-defense.

For its part, Eritrea has strongly denied these accusations, describing them as an attempt by Ethiopia to seek a pretext to wage war against its country.

The Eritrean Foreign Minister, Osman Saleh, has called on the Security Council to condemn what he described as a declaration of war by Ethiopia, and to take measures to prevent military aggression.

Saleh based his request on the seventh chapter of the United Nations Charter, which empowers the Security Council to impose sanctions or authorize military action to maintain international peace and security.

The Security Council was expected to hold a closed-door meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the Horn of Africa, after the United States requested that council members deliberate on the escalating conflict.

This meeting will be the second within two weeks that Security Council members discuss the situation in northern Ethiopia, reflecting the international concern that the conflict could spread to neighboring countries.

Maritime dispute and relations between the two countries

Ethiopia and Eritrea have long had a hostile relationship, but they reached a peace agreement in 2018, when Abiy Ahmed began diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict between the two countries.

Their relationship improved at that time, as Eritrea fought alongside the Ethiopian federal government during the Tigray war that lasted from 2020 to 2022, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

However, the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated again, especially when Ethiopia began to strongly articulate its need for access to the sea.

Ethiopia has lost the coastlines it used to use since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, and since then it has relied on the ports of neighboring countries.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has argued that access to a maritime route is crucial for the future and economic survival of Ethiopia, although his government has stated that it wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and a peaceful process.

Eritrea, on its part, is concerned about Ethiopia's discussions regarding the maritime route, viewing them as a threat to its independence and security.

The current tension has thus transcended the internal conflict in Ethiopia, with growing fears that the Tigray clashes could escalate into a broader regional war, while the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region are already facing security and political disputes.