Ethiopia has accused neighbouring Eritrea of repeated provocations and interference in its domestic affairs in a move that could further strain relations between the two Horn of Africa nations.
At a foreign policy forum hosted by Horn Review and Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of ongoing violations of Ethiopia’s national sovereignty, stating that the government had as a result lifted its policy of military restraint.
“Ethiopia’s military restraint in the face of what he described as serious provocations from Eritrea will continue indefinitely,” said Timothewos.
According to the minister, Eritrean troops have taken control of several localities in northern Ethiopia while the government in Asmara is providing substantial support to armed groups fighting the Ethiopian government.
The allegation comes amid rising tensions along their shared border and ongoing instability in Ethiopia’s northern regions.
“The situations on the ground necessitated Ethiopia to its exercise legitimate to defend sovereignty. The restraint cannot be considered as being indefinite and unconditional,” he said.
Timothewos contended that the recurring tensions extend beyond border disputes or maritime ambitions, attributing them to several deeper causes – including Eritrea’s alleged interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs and its role as a proxy for foreign actors opposed to Ethiopia.
He argued that Ethiopia and Eritrea — “two states that have virtually one people” — are well-positioned to form the nucleus of such an integration model.
This, he said, could begin with a free trade area and gradually expand toward deeper harmonisation of economic policies, including joint investment in strategic infrastructure, while addressing Ethiopia’s need for “durable and secure” access to the sea, including Assab, in ways mutually beneficial to both countries.
MG/jn/APA