Eritrea Ethiopia war could erupt
Borkena
Toronto – The Horn of Africa is once again on edge as tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia reach a boiling point. Despite the recent resolution of the Ethiopia-Somalia dispute through Turkish mediation, the region now faces a new threat: the possibility of a full-scale war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
A war could break out between Eritrea and Ethiopia, according to a report from African Intelligence. Signs of worsening tension between the two countries surfaced last week after Ethiopia’s former president, Mulatu Teshome, published an article on Al Jazeera, accusing Eritrea of exploiting one faction of the TPLF to stir war in the region. Eritrea responded to it via its Minister for Information, stating that the publication represents “warmongering.”
On Tuesday, African Intelligence reported, citing diplomatic sources, that war could erupt between the two countries. A group of military leaders in Tigray, who recently expressed support for the TPLF faction under Debretsion Gebremichael, are reportedly working with the Eritrean government. Ethiopian local news sources reported that the Eritrean government has pledged to back these leaders if Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government declares war against them.
A BBC Amharic report from last week indicates that Eritrea has already deepened its military mobilization. All men under the age of 60 with prior military service experience are required to report for training. Travel outside Eritrea is restricted for all individuals under the age of 50.
There are also military leaders in Tigray who are reportedly opposed to the alliance with Eritrea and instead support the Interim Administration in Tigray, which is working with the Abiy Ahmed-led federal government.
The Interim Administration has been making allegations that a group of military leaders in the region, apparently those backing Debretsion’s faction, have been involved in illegal gold mining in Tigray and smuggling it out through Eritrea—an allegation that the Eritrean government has denied.
Meanwhile, Eritrea’s Minister for Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, on Thursday responded to a growing social media campaign against Eritrea. He stated, “Their [pro-Ethiopian government activists’] tantrums stem from their reckless and unquenchable thirst—or pursuit—of snatching ‘a port and maritime territory’ from their neighbor, in flagrant breach of international law and established norms of peaceful coexistence.”
