Eritrea Urges International Intervention for Respect of…

Eritrea has appealed for international pressure on Ethiopia to honor neighboring sovereignty as tensions rise between the two nations. Following past conflicts, particularly the Tigray war, Eritrea expresses concern over Ethiopia’s ambitions regarding maritime access and denies accusations of preparing for war. Concerns of military mobilization and potential clashes have been raised by various officials, indicating a volatile situation in the region.

Eritrea has called upon the international community to urge Ethiopia to acknowledge and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighboring countries amidst escalating tensions. The historical relationship between these two Horn of Africa nations has been fraught, particularly following a 2018 peace agreement and exacerbated by the Tigray war that took place from 2020 to 2022, which saw Eritrea intervening in support of the Ethiopian government against the Tigrayan forces.

In a recent statement, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel expressed concern regarding Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ambitions pertaining to the port of Assab, suggesting that Ethiopia seeks maritime access and naval bases either through diplomacy or military action. The Minister described these aspirations as “misguided and outdated.” He also refuted notions of Eritrea’s military readiness against Ethiopia, labeling such claims as “false accusations.”

Human Rights Concern Eritrea (HRCE) reported that the Eritrean government has initiated a nationwide military mobilization for citizens under 60 years of age, a situation not independently verified by AFP. Additionally, there have been unconfirmed reports of weapon convoys heading towards northern Afar, the Ethiopian region bordering Eritrea, which raises further concerns regarding the potential outbreak of hostilities.

General Tsadkan Gebretensae, a strategist involved with Tigrayan forces, warned that a conflict could erupt between Ethiopia and Eritrea at any moment, particularly given the recent historical context where over 600,000 lives were lost in prior confrontations. Furthermore, recent skirmishes between factions within Tigray’s ruling party compounds the existing instability in the region.

Eritrea’s call for international intervention highlights the increasing tensions with Ethiopia, strained further by historical grievances, military mobilization, and territorial disputes. The potential for renewed conflict looms, emphasizing the urgent need for diplomatic engagement to ensure regional stability and respect for sovereignty.

Original Source: newscentral.africa