Eritrea has hit back at its neighbour Ethiopia describing accusations that its troops were on Ethiopian territory as 'false'. On Sunday, a letter sent from Ethiopia's foreign minister to his Eritrean counterpart demanded that the soldiers withdraw. It also accused Eritrea of 'outright aggression' saying it was conducting joint manoeuvres with Ethiopian rebels in the north and supplying them with weapons. In its response, Eritrea said this was part of a 'spiral of hostile campaigns against Eritrea for more than two years'. There has long been a history of tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which split off from its larger neighbour three decades ago, and there are fears of a renewed conflict. The countries fought a border war from 1998-2000, resulting in over 100,000 deaths, and despite a peace deal, relationships remain fraught. Tensions escalated further after Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent comments about Eritrean troops' involvement in past civil conflicts.
Tensions Rise as Eritrea Denies Ethiopia's Border Accusations
Tensions Rise as Eritrea Denies Ethiopia's Border Accusations
In a heated exchange, Eritrea refutes Ethiopia's claims of troop incursions, raising concerns over renewed conflict in the region.
Eritrea has strongly rejected accusations from Ethiopia that its troops have crossed the border, calling the claims 'false.' This response follows Ethiopia's demand for a troop withdrawal, amidst fears of escalating tensions between the two nations. A history of conflict, including a deadly border war in the late '90s, looms over the current situation, with both sides exchanging blame for provoking aggression.
