Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has ruled out military conflict with Eritrea over access to the Red Sea, despite rising regional tensions and speculation of a potential war between the two neighbors.
Concerns over a possible confrontation have grown after reports of Eritrea’s nationwide military mobilization, according to a human rights group, and Ethiopia’s troop movements near the border, as confirmed by diplomats and officials.
“Ethiopia does not intend to engage in conflict with Eritrea to secure access to the sea,” Abiy’s office said in a post on X. While he described Red Sea access as a critical issue for landlocked Ethiopia, he emphasized that his government sought a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
A new conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea—two of Africa’s largest military powers—would reverse the rapprochement that earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. It would also deepen the humanitarian crisis in a region already struggling with the fallout from the war in Sudan.
Eritrea aligned with Ethiopian federal forces during Ethiopia’s 2020-2022 civil war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a conflict that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. However, relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara soured after Eritrea was excluded from peace talks that ended the war in November 2022.
Meanwhile, internal divisions have emerged within the TPLF, with rival factions vying for control of Tigray’s interim administration. The current leadership has accused a dissident faction of collaborating with Eritrea, while the dissidents claim the administration has failed to protect Tigrayan interests—allegations both sides deny.
Speaking before parliament on Thursday, Abiy confirmed that the interim administration’s mandate had been extended for another year, with some amendments. He did not specify whether leadership changes—one of the dissident faction’s key demands—were part of the adjustments.
“In accordance with the Pretoria agreement, the interim administration will remain in place until the next elections,” Abiy said, referring to Ethiopia’s 2026 general election.
