Ethiopia demands Eritrea ‘immediately withdraw’ troops from its territory

A diplomatic crisis is escalating between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with Ethiopia demanding the “immediate withdrawal” of Eritrean troops from its territory. In a sharply worded letter dated Saturday, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of further escalation and “acts of outright aggression.”

The letter, addressed to Eritrea’s Foreign Minister, demands that Asmara “withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory and cease all forms of collaboration with rebel groups.” Timothewos characterized recent Eritrean military operations along Ethiopia’s northwestern border as “not just provocations but acts of outright aggression.” He stated, however, that Ethiopia remains open to “good-faith negotiations” if Eritrea respects its sovereignty.

Eritrea’s government has not issued an immediate public response. The two Horn of Africa nations have a history of conflict, including a bloody border war from 1998-2000. Relations improved briefly after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office, a reconciliation that earned him the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. The allies cooperated during Ethiopia’s Tigray civil war (2020-2022) but later fell out after Eritrea was excluded from the subsequent peace deal.

Current tensions are fueled by mutual accusations. Ethiopia alleges Eritrea is funding insurgent groups and “actively preparing for war.” Eritrea, in turn, has accused landlocked Ethiopia of seeking to seize its Red Sea port of Assab as part of Addis Ababa’s push for sea access. The exchange raises fears of a potential new military conflict between the long-time adversaries.