Eritrea has asked the United Nations to take “deterrent measures” against what it describes as Ethiopia’s declaration of war, as tensions between the two neighbours escalate over the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
In a letter to the UN, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh warned that the situation could cause widespread destruction and destabilise the Horn of Africa, according to Africanews.
He said the conflict would bring “huge devastation to the peoples of both countries and destabilize the whole region”.
The request follows accusations by Ethiopia that Eritrean troops had launched an “all-out invasion” and advanced up to 60 kilometres into Tigray.
Eritrea has denied sending its forces into Ethiopian territory, describing the allegations as an attempt by Addis Ababa to justify military action.
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The escalating tensions have raised fears of renewed fighting along the countries’ shared border.
Residents in Adigrat, a city in Tigray near Eritrea, said Ethiopian government forces and allied militia had entered the area on Saturday.
The developments came days after reports that Eritrean troops had withdrawn or been pushed back from positions near the strategic town, which has previously been controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Residents described deteriorating conditions, with shortages of food and medical supplies affecting vulnerable people.
“Children and the elderly are suffering from hunger. Sick people are dying due to a lack of medical treatment,” resident Hagos Woldegebriel said.
Teame Lemlem, who was displaced from Zalambessa during an earlier conflict, said essential supplies were running out and banks remained closed.
“People are also dying without medical care. If peace prevails, it would bring us great hope,” he said.
The latest confrontation follows renewed clashes involving TPLF fighters and Ethiopian federal forces in the northern region. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting the rebels, while Asmara has rejected allegations of military involvement.
The two countries have a history of conflict, including a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000, after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.
Relations improved in 2018 after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office and pursued rapprochement with Eritrea, but tensions have since resurfaced.
Ethiopia’s repeated calls for direct access to the sea have also heightened concerns in Eritrea, which views the demand as a potential threat to its sovereignty and its Red Sea port of Assab.
The TPLF fought Ethiopian government forces in a devastating war from 2020 to 2022, during which Eritrea supported Ethiopian forces.
The latest escalation has renewed concerns that the conflict could widen and threaten stability across the region.
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