Escalating Tensions: Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of War Preparations

Tue Oct 21 2025 15:55:52 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ethiopia's Foreign Minister warns the UN of Eritrean collusion with rebel factions, heightening fears of a new conflict amid territorial disputes.

Ethiopia has formally accused Eritrea of preparing for war, alleging collaboration with opposition groups to disrupt Ethiopian governance. The escalating tensions come as Ethiopia seeks renewed access to the Red Sea, a move viewed as a threat by Eritrea. The backdrop includes a history of violent conflict between the two nations over territorial control.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of preparing to wage war against it in collusion with an opposition grouping, in the latest sign of escalating tensions between the two neighbours over control of the Red Sea.

In a letter sent to UN chief Antonio Guterres, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos claimed that this collusion has become 'more evident' in recent months.

While Eritrea has yet to comment, its relationship with Ethiopia has soured amidst Ethiopia's push to regain access to the Red Sea, a territory Eritrea controlled after gaining independence in 1993.

If Gedion's allegations hold true, it indicates Eritrea is engaging in a proxy war against Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The accusation suggests an attempt to counteract potential military incursions aimed at reclaiming ports along the Red Sea.

Historically, Ethiopia and Eritrea were embroiled in a border conflict from 1998 to 2000, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and lasting animosities. Despite a peace deal reached in 2022, relations have continued to fray especially around issues of territorial access to sea ports.

The letter further alleges an alliance between Eritrea and the hardliner faction of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which is reportedly mobilizing armed groups in Ethiopia's troubled Amhara region.

A strident push from Ethiopia to regain its coastline emphasizes the importance of these waters, which President Taye Atske Selassie described as 'essential to our country's existence.' In response, Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel dismissed these claims as excessive.

As Ethiopia grapples with internal conflicts with groups like the Fano militia in Amhara, the complexities of governance and military strategies continue to emerge, raising concerns of an impending confrontation in the already delicate geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa.