Ethiopia says seized ammunition sent by Eritrea to rebels...

What’s Happening

Let’s talk about Eritrea denies the claim and accuses Ethiopia of seeking a pretext to attack, amid fears of renewed conflict.

Ethiopia says seized ammunition sent rebels as tensions rise 27 minutes ago Save Emily Atkinson Save Reuters Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed raised tensions with Eritrea Ethiopia needed access to the sea Ethiopian police say they have seized thousands of rounds of ammunition sent a violent armed rebel group, stoking fears of renewed armed conflict. Eritrea has shut down the allegation and accused Ethiopia of “floating false flags to justify the war that it has been itching to unleash for two long years”. (it feels like chaos)

It comes at a volatile moment for the relationship between the Horn of Africa neighbours, which a fractious and violent history.

The Details

Hopes of tentative peace, forged during a 2020-22 civil war in northern Ethiopia, have of late given way to a war of words over control of the Red Sea. This latest claim appears to be a sign of further escalation.

Escalating war of words between Ethiopia and Eritrea triggers fears of conflict Eritrea quits regional bloc as tensions rise with Ethiopia On Wednesday, Ethiopian police dropped in a Facebook statement that they had seized “more than 56,000 rounds of ammunition” in the Amhara region intended to “arm the Fano” rebels, and had arrested two suspects. “The preliminary investigation conducted on the two suspects who were caught red-handed has locked in that the ammunition was sent government” - a term for Eritreas ruling party - they dropped.

Why This Matters

Eritreas Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel shut down the claim and accused Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds Prosperity Party (PP) of seeking a pretext to attack. Relations between the two countries have frequently been strained. After a decades-long battle for independence, Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it landlocked.

This is part of the larger geopolitical picture unfolding right now.

Key Takeaways

• Five years later, a border war erupted in which more than 100,000 people died.
• In 2018, the two nations signed an historic declaration to normalise relations.

The Bottom Line

Five years later, a border war erupted in which more than 100,000 people died. In 2018, the two nations signed an historic declaration to normalise relations.

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