Source: By Rashid Abdi
It has been apparent for almost a year relations between the two former allies was deteriorating.
Growing friction between Ethiopia and Eritrea could lead to war unless speedily managed. I have learnt from impeccable sources Egypt latest country approached to try to calm tensions between Asmara and Addis.
Eritrean Foreign Minister on the weekend delivered a letter to the Egyptian President from his Eritrean counterpart. It is believed the letter contained Eritrean complaints against Ethiopia and in particular calls by PM Abiy to stake a claim on a Red Sea port.
It has been apparent for almost a year relations between the two former allies was deteriorating. PM Abiy’s comments on Red Sea going down badly in Asmara. Eritrea mildly rebuked the PM and said rhetoric “excessive” Eritrea’s biggest grouse remains the Pretoria peace accord.
Eritrea believes the accord was driven by the US, designed to save the TPLF. Asmara preferred the total surrender of TPLF. Ethiopia feels aggrieved that Eritrea continues to maintain troops in parts of Tigray and feels this could ultimately torpedo the Pretoria accord.
At the start of the Amhara conflict in August 2023, there were fears Eritrea may become directly involved. This did not happen for a variety of reasons. Still concerns abound in Ethiopia about alleged Eritrean “meddling”.
PM Abiy and President Isaias have been strong allies. They could still rekindle their friendship and find a negotiated path that allows Addis to gain a sea outlet and manage peace in Tigray better. That would entail an honest dialogue with each other, not sniping at each other.
A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea will be catastrophic and must be avoided.
Martin Plaut 
How could an accord between Isaias and Abyi be „honest“?
The Eritrean government deserves to be punished for its involvement in the Tigray conflict but the Eritrean people shouldn’t suffer the consequences….
Eritrean 🇪🇷 we are ready for anyone and anything, If you want war we will give you war we are not scared from no body we will defend our country to the end.
Well both side got the power with a long year War, The tplf have a short term plan to that big country, Both Tplf and Eplf are deceiver, During the struggle the had promise to build democracy, Well today both they still singing about War,
The recent remarks by Ethiopia’s remarks may seem baffling but reveal the tense relation between Asmara and Addis. The rhetoric of the Red Sea as being the natural border of Ethiopia is baseless in terms of international agreements and laws. There is no precedence that supports the notion where a large landlocked country coercively can seize a piece of land or annexes a sovereign neighbour on the grounds that its 120 million population is landlocked, while a neighbouring 5 million people enjoy the access to 1,000 kilometers of coastline.
Why is PM Abiy publicly bring up this benign notion at a time when fierce internal conflicts cease to subside? I doubt that he is trying to divert public opinion. The debate on the issue of the Nile is not by any means comparable to some Ethiopians’ whim of returning back the lost coastal frontiers.
There is only one feasible way for Ethiopia – mutual cooperation. For now Isaias’s hermit state will not allow any form of bilateral framework for economic between the two states. Development and trade with any of the regional state is obviously something that is missing in the regime’s agenda. There comes perhaps a day when the people in the region will enjoy peaceful coexistent when senile leaders have replaced the current ones.
The recent remarks by Ethiopia’s remarks may seem baffling but reveal the tense relation between Asmara and Addis. The rhetoric of the Red Sea as being the natural border of Ethiopia is baseless in terms of international agreements and laws. There is no precedence that supports the notion where a large landlocked country coercively can seize a piece of land or annexes a sovereign neighbour on the grounds that its 120 million population is landlocked, while a neighbouring 5 million people enjoy the access to 1,000 kilometers of coastline.
Why is PM Abiy publicly bring up this benign notion at a time when fierce internal conflicts cease to subside? I doubt that he is trying to divert public opinion. The debate on the issue of the Nile is not by any means comparable to some Ethiopians’ whim of returning back the lost coastal frontiers.
There is only one feasible way for Ethiopia – mutual cooperation. For understandable reasons, Isaias’s hermit state in the short run will not allow any form of bilateral framework for economic between the two states. Development and trade with any of the regional state is obviously something that is missing in the regime’s agenda. There comes perhaps a day when the people in the region will enjoy peaceful coexistent when senile leaders have replaced the current ones.
Ethiopia violate international and African Law of a sovereign country by demanding possession of port outlet through Eritrea, Djibouti , Somaliland and Somalia. It is unacceptable and never happen. He said by Force one option never happen , he couldn’t fight with Amhara Fano everyday he failed the battle and thousands of his troops died . Ethiopia couldn solve it internal problems.
Isaias searched a way to regain popularity among Eritrean people and he asked to Abyi to give a statement and be ready for a propaganda conflict. After propaganda war he can ask to UN for humanitarian support (money). I think you have observed their behavior and know this all.
Then you don’t know what exactly you are talking about. have you ever heard the Government of Eritrea seeking any financial aid from any UN???
Isaias searched a way to regain popularity among Eritrean people and he asked to Abyi to give a statement and be ready for a propaganda conflict. Tigray will be exposed about new built army. In this planned event Isaias will give Assab port to Ethiopia which was decided before Tigray conflict. After propaganda war he can ask to UN for humanitarian support (money). I think you have observed their behavior and know this all.
Honest friendship mean to do justice for Ethiopia the way the TPLF & Shabia conspired against the Ethiopian Poor people to land lock Ethiopia, the argument Ethiopia as a landlocked country is a colonial fable. Honest friendship demands that justice. All Afar people are Ethiopians. #Dankalia are Ethiopian people and territory for thousands of years, still are lead by one Ethiopian Afar Sultan power through their Afar traditional election. Honesty!