Ethiopia announces a sensitive decision in a letter sent to the UN...

Addis Ababa (Caasimada Online) – The Ethiopian government today, Friday, stated that Eritrean forces have launched a large-scale attack on the northern part of the country, and that they have no option but to defend themselves, as military tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.

This accusation was included in a letter sent by Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, to the United Nations Security Council, a copy of which was obtained by the Reuters news agency.

The minister stated that Eritrean forces, equipped with military vehicles, have entered Ethiopian territory up to a distance of 60 kilometers, which he described as a serious violation of his country's sovereignty.

“The large-scale invasion launched by Eritrea against parts of northern Ethiopia is a well-known fact. It is an act of aggression that gives Ethiopia the right to defend itself,” the letter stated.

This letter, dated Thursday, was sent to the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, whose country is a member of the Security Council. A senior Ethiopian official told Reuters that it was also forwarded to other council members.

This is the first time the Ethiopian government has officially addressed the allegations regarding Eritrean forces entering its territory this week, which have heightened fears of a direct conflict between the two countries.

Ethiopia's statement came just days after the two countries severed their diplomatic ties, as ongoing battles in the Tigray region have further complicated the security situation along the border.

Eritrea rejects the accusation

On the other hand, the Eritrean government has accused Ethiopia of having for years pursued a military plan against its country, claiming that Addis Ababa intends to forcibly seize the port of Assab located on the Red Sea.

The Eritrean Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, stated in a post he published on Friday on X that his country has shown patience and self-restraint, despite accusing Ethiopia of having for more than three years engaged in unprovoked aggression.

Yemane stated that this threat began when Ethiopian leaders announced in 2023 their plan to secure a maritime route for their independence.

He argued that the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is using the ongoing conflicts as a pretext to seize the port of Assab, in order to regain access to the Red Sea.

However, the Eritrean minister did not directly respond to the accusation that his country's forces have entered Ethiopia. On Wednesday, he described those reports as part of a plan by Addis Ababa to legitimize a war against Eritrea.

Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, and its leaders have recently consistently stated that securing a maritime route is crucial for the country's future.

However, Addis Ababa has insisted that this issue should be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, while Eritrea fears that Ethiopia's ambitions may ultimately lead to a military attempt to seize its ports.

Airstrikes and new explosions

The exchange of accusations comes as new explosions have been heard around the city of Adigrat in the Tigray region, where military movements by the forces of both countries have been reported in recent days.

The U.S.-based ACLED organization, which monitors conflicts, reported that airstrikes by unmanned aerial vehicles targeted Eritrean forces on Wednesday and Thursday, while they were retreating from positions near Adigrat.

The agency stated that these airstrikes are believed to have been carried out by Ethiopian forces, but there is still no independent confirmation regarding the resulting casualties.

A resident of Adigrat told Reuters on Friday that they heard repeated explosions occurring several kilometers from the city during the night and morning.

Other witnesses reported earlier this week that they saw Eritrean troops transporting military vehicles inside Tigray, which has heightened concerns that the conflicts in Ethiopia may escalate into regional warfare.

On the other hand, Ethiopian government forces have recently been retaking areas in Tigray, including the city of Mekelle, after opposition forces withdrew from there.

Ethiopian Airlines has also announced that it will resume flights to Mekelle on October 11, indicating an effort to restore normal services in the city.

Dangerous tension in the region

New fighting began on September 23, when Ethiopian federal forces clashed with a coalition of armed groups operating in the Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting that coalition, but the Asmara government has denied the accusation.

The relationship between the two countries has undergone significant changes in recent years. Ethiopia and Eritrea reached a peace agreement in 2018, following a long-standing conflict, and that agreement earned Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the Nobel Peace Prize.

The two countries later cooperated during the Tigray war that lasted between 2020 and 2022, when Eritrean forces supported the Ethiopian federal government. However, their relationship soured again at the end of that conflict.

The Tigray war caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and the renewed fighting that erupted last month has been the fiercest since a peace agreement ended that conflict in 2022.

The current tension has raised further concerns about the stability of the Horn of Africa, as the Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute coincides with other ongoing conflicts and escalating tensions over the Red Sea shipping routes.