Eritrea urged the United Nations Security Council to take deterrent measures against Ethiopia and condemn what it described as a “declaration of war”, after Addis Ababa accused Eritrean forces of carrying out a “full-scale invasion” of its territory, as military and diplomatic tensions between the two countries escalate.
Asmara said in a letter to the Security Council seen by Reuters on Saturday that Ethiopia’s accusations amounted to a “declaration of war”, describing them as part of “efforts to justify launching a military attack against it”. Eritrea denied reports that its forces had entered Ethiopian territory.
Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh described the accusations as part of an Ethiopian plan to justify an “aggressive war”, calling on the United Nations to intervene under Chapter VII of its Charter, which allows measures ranging from sanctions to the use of military force.
Ethiopia calls for the withdrawal of Eritrean forces
The Eritrean position came after the Ethiopian government urged the Security Council to apply pressure for Eritrean forces to withdraw from its territory immediately. The request was made in a letter sent by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gideon Timothewos on 8 October and seen by a senior Ethiopian government official. In his letter, Timothewos said the presence of Eritrean forces had left his country with no choice but to defend itself.
Addis Ababa also considered the crossing of the border by Eritrean forces to constitute an invasion and a violation of Ethiopia’s sovereignty, according to diplomatic sources. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel, meanwhile, rejected reports of Eritrean forces being present in the city of Adigrat, saying they were an attempt by Ethiopia to justify waging war against his country.
Deteriorating relations and continuing tensions in Tigray
The exchange of accusations comes amid deteriorating relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa. Eritrea had cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in response to the latter closing its embassy in Eritrea and expelling ten Eritrean diplomats, while military tensions continued in the far north of the Tigray region.
