General Tsadkan Gebretensae of the Tigray Interim Administration has stated that war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is imminent, with military preparations in their final stages. He noted that Eritrea’s actions may threaten the Pretoria agreement and warned of wider implications for regional stability. Eritrea has denied these allegations and emphasized that the root issues originate from Ethiopia.
The Tigray Interim Administration, under the leadership of General Tsadkan Gebretensae, warns of the imminent possibility of a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, designating the Tigray region as a potential battlefield. General Tsadkan, who previously served as Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Defense Forces, stated that the hostilities are in the “final stages” of preparation, emphasizing that the conflict could extend beyond Ethiopia and Eritrea, potentially impacting Sudan and the Red Sea area.
Tsadkan emphasized that while Tigray seeks to avoid conflict and promote peace, the narrowing options for peace suggest that war might soon become the only recourse. He noted that the alliance between Ethiopia and Eritrea has weakened following the Pretoria agreement, which aimed to cease hostilities in Tigray. “Preparations are in their final stages,” he cautioned, indicating that the escalation of military readiness would make it increasingly difficult to avert conflict.
General Tsadkan criticized Eritrea for what he termed a “predatory” approach toward its neighbors, particularly viewing Tigray as a barrier to its aspirations. He suggested that some Tigrayan leaders have sought to utilize Eritrea as a means to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, only to later pivot against Eritrea itself, driven by a desire for power irrespective of the potential consequences for the Tigrayan populace.
Former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome echoed concerns regarding Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, remarking that Afwerki aims to exploit divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to destabilize the Pretoria Peace Agreement. In a recent editorial, Mulatu warned that such maneuvers could reignite conflict in northern Ethiopia, threatening the peace deal overall.
Eritrean officials have countered these accusations, asserting that they are unfounded and part of a broader agenda of war-mongering. Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane G. Meskel characterized these claims as an “audacious attempt” to divert attention from Ethiopia’s internal issues, insisting that the problems in the region stem from Ethiopia’s circumstances rather than external interference. Furthermore, Eritrea refuted claims regarding military operations within Ethiopia, emphasizing that the Pretoria Agreement is strictly an internal matter for Ethiopia.
The potential for renewed conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia has escalated, as suggested by General Tsadkan’s warnings regarding military preparations and geopolitical tensions. Despite aspirations for peace, the trajectory indicates an increasing likelihood of confrontation, exacerbated by internal divisions within Ethiopia and Eritrea’s purported interference. The international community must closely monitor these developments to foster regional stability and peace.
Original Source: www.garoweonline.com
