In the quiet shadow of the rugged highlands that stretch along the Horn of Africa, where ancient histories meet the ebb and flow of modern politics, a fresh ripple of tension has emerged between two neighbours once bound by both conflict and cooperation. It is as if old fault lines — etched by decades of war and uneasy peace — are fanned by a new refrain today, carrying voices of accusation and denial across a landscape long marked by struggle and aspiration.

Eritrea has strongly denied recent accusations by neighbouring Ethiopia that its troops crossed into Ethiopian territory — saying such reports are “false and fabricated.” According to statements from Eritrea’s Ministry of Information, the claims by Addis Ababa are part of what Asmara describes as a hostile campaign by Ethiopia against Eritrea, rather than an accurate reflection of events.

Ethiopia’s government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has recently accused Eritrea of military aggression and of supporting armed groups within Ethiopian territory, particularly along their shared northwestern border. These assertions — outlined in an official letter from Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister to his Eritrean counterpart — included claims of Eritrean troops occupying Ethiopian land and collaborating with militant factions.

But Eritrea’s response was clear and pointed: the Information Ministry labelled the entire set of allegations as “false and fabricated.” Asmara framed these claims as part of a broader hostile campaign that has persisted for years, rejecting the idea that its forces engaged in the actions described by Ethiopian officials. Eritrean authorities further took issue with recent remarks by Ethiopian leaders regarding Ethiopia’s landlocked status and assertions about a right to sea access — remarks seen in Asmara as veiled pressures and even threats.

The exchange underscores deepening mistrust between the two countries. Although Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace agreement in 2018 — ending two decades of overt hostility after a brutal border war in the late 1990s — relations have deteriorated following the Ethiopian civil conflict in the Tigray region, in which Eritrean forces were involved and which has left many unresolved grievances on both sides.

In recent weeks, these diplomatic tensions have resurfaced amid renewed clashes in parts of northern Ethiopia and broader regional uncertainties. While Ethiopia says it has raised these security concerns and called for Eritrean troop withdrawal, Eritrea’s denials have been emphatic, insisting that its sovereignty and national security are being unfairly questioned.

Against this backdrop, analysts warn that without careful dialogue and channels for de-escalation, misunderstandings and claims of hostility could further strain an already fragile relationship — one shaped by a long history of conflict, cooperation, and cautious peace.

AI Image Disclaimer Images in this article are AI-generated illustrations, meant for concept only.

Sources • Reuters • Reuters • AP News • Anadolu Agency • Hiiraanweyn