Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of waging a “campaign” of derogatory statements against it, signaling a sharp deterioration in relations between the two Horn of Africa nations.
The accusations come after years of strained ties despite a 2018 peace deal, and raise concerns about renewed instability in the region.
The rivalry between Eritrea and Ethiopia dates back decades, marked by a brutal border war and deep-seated mistrust.
While the 2018 peace agreement initially offered a path towards reconciliation, tensions have resurfaced, fueled by competing interests and lingering grievances.
A key point of contention is Ethiopia’s recent deal with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland to establish a Red Sea port.
This move, seen by some as a challenge to Eritrea’s influence in the region, sparked a diplomatic row with Somalia and remains a source of regional tension.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ethiopia’s former president Mulatu Teshome recently branded Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki a “pyromaniac,” accusing Eritrea of seeking to reignite conflict in northern Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, reports of a nationwide military mobilization in Eritrea have raised alarm bells among human rights groups.
These reports, which have yet to be independently verified, compound existing concerns about Eritrea’s human rights record, particularly its role in the Tigray conflict, where its forces were accused of war crimes.
