Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has issued a stern warning to neighboring Ethiopia. He cautioned against any new war between the long-standing rivals. Tensions remain notably high across the volatile Horn of Africa region.
Eritrea and Ethiopia have endured strained relations since Eritrea’s 1993 independence. A devastating war from 1998 to 2000 claimed tens of thousands of lives. The scars of that conflict run deep, impacting current diplomatic efforts.
At the core of the current animosity lies Ethiopia’s long-held desire for sea access. Landlocked, Ethiopia seeks a port, a geopolitical ambition challenging Eritrea’s sovereignty. This maritime quest fuels significant regional instability.
President Afwerki, ruling Eritrea with an iron grip, directly addressed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He dismissed any notion of overwhelming Eritrea through sheer population size. Ethiopia’s 130 million people dwarf Eritrea’s 3.5 million citizens.
“Human wave attacks” would prove futile, Afwerki asserted on state television. He urged Abiy to address Ethiopia’s internal challenges first. Such problems should take precedence over external military diversions.
Afwerki branded Abiy’s actions “reckless,” a bid to divert domestic attention. While a 2018 peace deal promised reconciliation, conflict reignited in Ethiopia’s Tigray province from 2020-2022. Eritrean forces supported rebels against Ethiopian troops.
That brutal conflict tragically killed an estimated 600,000 people. Despite a peace agreement, Eritrea maintains a military presence in Tigray. Relations between the two nations have since sharply deteriorated, fostering persistent unease.