Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated that Ethiopia will not engage in conflict with Eritrea over access to the Red Sea, favoring dialogue instead. Tensions have risen following military mobilizations by Eritrea and troop movements by Ethiopia. Eritrean officials have expressed concerns over Ethiopia’s ambitions, urging international support for their sovereignty. The situation remains delicate as both countries navigate their historical rivalry and a complex internal political landscape.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has asserted that Ethiopia will pursue a peaceful resolution regarding access to the Red Sea and will not engage in conflict with Eritrea. His commitment was expressed clearly during a recent statement on social media, stating, “Ethiopia does not have any intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea for the purpose of gaining access to the sea.” He emphasized that dialogue is the preferred method to address Ethiopia’s existential matter of Red Sea access.
Concerns of potential armed conflict arose after Eritrea initiated a nationwide military mobilization, coinciding with Ethiopia’s troop deployments near the border. Meanwhile, Abiy’s aspirations for port access, particularly to Assab, have stirred irritation in Eritrea, prompting Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel to criticize Ethiopia’s ambitions as outdated, insisting that the country should respect Eritrea’s sovereignty.
Eritrea’s officials recommended that the international community exert pressure on Ethiopia to maintain regional integrity. The Eritrean Minister characterized accusations of their military preparations against Ethiopia as unfounded, highlighting the tension that remains volatile in the region.
A resurgence of violence between Ethiopia and Eritrea could jeopardize the historic peace achieved through Abiy’s efforts, which garnered him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. It would further complicate the already fragile circumstances in the Horn of Africa, particularly due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from the previous civil war involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The conclusion of the Tigray conflict in late 2022 created a rift, as Eritrea was excluded from peace negotiations. Since then, the TPLF has fragmented, leading to disputes within Tigray’s interim administration. Abiy announced the extension of this administration for another year, albeit without details regarding potential leadership changes.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has definitively ruled out the possibility of conflict with Eritrea over Red Sea access, advocating for dialogue as the means to resolution. Recent military escalations have heightened tensions, yet both nations face the repercussions of renewed conflict, which would undermine hard-won peace and threaten regional stability. The dynamics within the Tigray administration further complicate Ethiopia’s internal and external relationships.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
