Eritrea has withdrawn from East African regional bloc Igad, accusing the organisation of becoming a tool against countries like itself. In a statement on Friday, Eritrea's foreign ministry said Igad had strayed from its founding principles and failed to contribute to regional stability. The withdrawal comes amid a fierce war of words between Eritrea and neighbouring Ethiopia, leading to fears of renewed armed conflict.
In response to Eritrea's statement, Igad (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) said the country had not made any tangible proposals or engaged with reforms. Igad was established to promote regional stability and food security in East Africa, and also includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Djibouti. The government in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, has long accused Igad of siding with Ethiopia in regional disputes.
Eritrea previously left the bloc in 2007, during its border dispute with Ethiopia. It only rejoined in 2023. Eritrea finds itself compelled to withdraw its membership from an organisation that has forfeited its legal mandate and authority; offering no discernible strategic benefit to all its constituencies, Eritrea's foreign ministry said on Friday.
The withdrawal comes as tensions have been increasing between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Since 2023, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been demanding access to the Red Sea through Eritrea, resulting in a furious response from Asmara. After a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving the latter landlocked.
In calling for sea access, Abiy and other senior Ethiopian officials have questioned Addis Ababa's recognition of Eritrean independence. Abiy won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for making peace with Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki, after a two-decade long border dispute. The ongoing hostilities reflect a complicated history of conflict that continues to affect regional dynamics.
In response to Eritrea's statement, Igad (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) said the country had not made any tangible proposals or engaged with reforms. Igad was established to promote regional stability and food security in East Africa, and also includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Djibouti. The government in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, has long accused Igad of siding with Ethiopia in regional disputes.
Eritrea previously left the bloc in 2007, during its border dispute with Ethiopia. It only rejoined in 2023. Eritrea finds itself compelled to withdraw its membership from an organisation that has forfeited its legal mandate and authority; offering no discernible strategic benefit to all its constituencies, Eritrea's foreign ministry said on Friday.
The withdrawal comes as tensions have been increasing between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Since 2023, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been demanding access to the Red Sea through Eritrea, resulting in a furious response from Asmara. After a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving the latter landlocked.
In calling for sea access, Abiy and other senior Ethiopian officials have questioned Addis Ababa's recognition of Eritrean independence. Abiy won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for making peace with Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki, after a two-decade long border dispute. The ongoing hostilities reflect a complicated history of conflict that continues to affect regional dynamics.
