I have the honor to recall that in a letter dated 20 June 2025, I drew your attention to the repeated provocations of the Eritrean government and its hostile acts against Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We are encouraged by the response from friends and partners with whom we have shared our concems. Many have reached out expressing their solidarity and offering their good offices to help resolve the tension that is posing a grave danger to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The attention accorded to the issue by the intemational community, which has shown a strong resolve to avoid another deadly conflict in the region, has been instrumental in delaying the offensive operations that the Eritrean government and its proxies have been planning to undertake. I take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude for your concern and solidarity.
As a follow-up to my previous letter, I would like to share with you the latest developments and our continued concern. The collusion between the Eritrean government and the TPLF has become more evident over the past few months. In an alliance that they have dubbed “Tsimdo”, the hardliner faction of the TPLF and the Eritrean government are actively preparing to wage war against Ethiopia. They are also funding, mobilizing, and directing armed groups such as Fano to expand the horizon of the conflict. Recently, the Fano launched an offensive that was intended to take over Wolidya, one of the major towns in the Amhara region. This furtive offensive was supported and instigated by the Eritrean government and TPLF. In fact, TPLF commanders and fighters actively participated in the offensive. There have also been other incidents and skirmishes in Raya as well as Welkait, where TPLF forces, in direct violation of the Agreement for Lasting Peace Through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities signed in Pretoria in 2022, have attempted to provoke another round of conflict. The Ethiopian Defense Forces have adopted a defensive posture and tried to contain the situation. This is because of our policy of maximun restraint. However, it should be noted that the policy is not one of indefinite restraint
The Eritrean govermment is the main architect of these nefarious activities. It underwrites these contlicts through its direct financial, material, and political support. Its ultimate objective is to destabilize and fragment Ethiopia in collaboration with its proxies. The Eritrean govemment tries to justify its sinister machinations against Ethiopia by claiming that it feels threatened by Ethiopia’s quest to gain access to the sea. Eritrea presents its hostile acts against Ethiopia as preemptive defensive measures. It should be noted that all of these claims are pretexts that are invoked to justify Eritrea’s decades-old and relentless effort to destabilize Ethiopia. This pattern of behavior on the part of the Eritrean government was evident even at times when Ethiopian governments have not expressed any maritime related aspiration.
I take this opportunity to reassure you that despite Eritrea’s provocations, Ethiopia is committed to realizing its aspirations pertaining to the sea through peaceful means. Ethiopia believes that the best way to attain a secure and durable access to the sea is through institutionalized economic integration mechanisms that could be beneficial both for Eritrea and Ethiopia. Our vision is for shared prosperity through modalities of integration that preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both states while pursuing an ambitious economic integration agenda that would foster peace, stability, and prosperity for generations to come. Ethiopia has a forward-looking leadership intent on realizing the fill development potential of our region.
In this spirit, Ethiopia has repeatedly expressed its willingness to engage in good faith negotiations with the governinent of Eritrea. Once again, we urge the intermational community to prevail upon the Government of Eritrea to cease its direct and indirect acts of hostility against Ethiopia. The Eritrean government must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and refrain from interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs. We also call upon the international community to continue its efforts to facilitate and usher in an era of constructive engagement and cooperation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, not only in relation to maritime affairs but also in other areas of common concem.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
