Rising Tensions: General Tsadkan Warns of Imminent War Between Eritrea and Ethiopia
General Tsadkan Gebretensae warns of potential war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, stating preparations for conflict are advancing. He accuses Eritrea of hostile behavior and expresses concerns over the implications for regional stability. Former President Mulatu Teshome supports the warnings, highlighting Eritrea’s efforts to exploit divisions within Ethiopia. Eritrea refutes these claims, attributing regional issues to Ethiopian instability.
The Tigray Interim Administration has issued a warning regarding the potential onset of war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, indicating that preparations for conflict are nearing completion. General Tsadkan Gebretensae, Vice President of the Administration, characterized the conflict as “inevitable” and pointed to hostile actions taken by Eritrea.
General Tsadkan, previously Chief of Staff for the Ethiopian Defense Forces, expressed concern that hostilities could ignite at any moment. In a commentary for The Africa Report, he cautioned that such a war could extend beyond Eritrea and Ethiopia, potentially impacting Sudan and the Red Sea region. He emphasized that while Tigray seeks to maintain peace, the opportunities for a peaceful resolution are dwindling.
Conflict prospects have increased since the Pretoria agreement, designed to halt hostilities in Tigray. General Tsadkan noted that the alliance between Ethiopia and Eritrea has weakened, with preparations for war reaching critical stages; he warned that any further escalation would make it difficult to retract these preparations.
The General accused Eritrea of predatory behavior, leveraging its regional position to exploit Ethiopia and Sudan, perceiving Tigray as a barrier to its ambitions. Tsadkan alleged that President Isaias Afwerki views the Pretoria agreement as detrimental and that certain factions within Tigray are considering alliances with Eritrea for personal gain.
Former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome reinforced these concerns, alleging that Isaias Afwerki aims to exacerbate divisions within the TPLF, jeopardizing the Pretoria Peace Agreement. Mulatu also claimed Eritrea is nurturing instability by supporting factions within Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara state.
In response to these accusations, Eritrean officials dismissed claims of interference and aggression, labeling them as “audacious claims” to justify a war agenda. Eritrea argues that Ethiopia’s domestic issues should not be externalized, asserting that the root problems are internal rather than stemming from Eritrea. They also rejected allegations of military presence in Ethiopia, insisting that the Pretoria Agreement pertains solely to Ethiopian matters.
In conclusion, the warning from General Tsadkan Gebretensae signifies rising tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia, highlighting the potential for an imminent conflict. The weakened alliance following the Pretoria agreement combined with Eritrea’s alleged predatory actions raises concerns about regional stability. Furthermore, the claims and counterclaims from both Eritrean officials and Ethiopian leaders signal a complex interplay of political maneuvers, each side seeking to protect its interests amidst looming threats of warfare.
Original Source: www.garoweonline.com
