The United States has called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise restraint and return to dialogue, warning that escalating tensions between the two countries could lead to a new conflict that the Horn of Africa cannot afford. According to Reuters, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Beigot said the Horn of Africa cannot bear another military conflict and humanitarian crisis. He added that a conflict between the two countries would threaten the cooperation between the US and Ethiopia and Eritrea on issues of common interest.
Beigot urged both countries to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbors, exercise maximum restraint, and return to dialogue and cooperation under the framework of the peace agreement signed in 2018. He emphasized that peace based on dialogue is the way to achieve sustainable security, economic growth, and prosperity in the region. The US warning comes amid rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, coinciding with rapid developments in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia and fears of an escalation.
Eritrea announced on Thursday that it was cutting all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in response to Addis Ababa's decision to close its embassy in Asmara and expel 10 Eritrean diplomats. Asmara accused the Ethiopian government of pursuing a hostile policy towards it and seeking access to the Red Sea through Eritrean ports and coastal areas. The tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent months, with exchanges of accusations and military movements that have raised fears of a collapse of the 2018 peace agreement.
The crisis has regional significance given the strategic location of the two countries and their proximity to the Red Sea, a time when the Horn of Africa is experiencing multiple security and political tensions. Ethiopia and Eritrea ended two decades of hostility in 2018 after a bloody border war between 1998 and 2000, but relations between them have seen increasing tension in recent times. The US warning is a call for calm and a return to dialogue to prevent further escalation.
The developments in the Tigray region have added to the tensions, with concerns about the humanitarian situation and the potential for conflict to spread. The international community has been watching the situation closely, with the US, in particular, taking a keen interest in the stability of the region. The US has significant interests in the region, including security and economic ties with both Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Eritrean government's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia is a significant escalation, and there are concerns about the potential for further retaliation. The situation remains volatile, and there are fears that the tensions could boil over into a full-blown conflict. The US and other international actors are urging restraint and a return to dialogue to prevent further escalation.
The peace agreement signed in 2018 was a significant achievement, and there are concerns that the current tensions could undermine the progress made. The international community is watching closely, and there are calls for calm and restraint to prevent further escalation. The situation remains fragile, and there are concerns about the potential for conflict to spread beyond Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Key points
- The US has warned Ethiopia and Eritrea against escalating tensions, citing the risk of another conflict in the Horn of Africa.
- Eritrea has cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in response to Addis Ababa's decision to close its embassy in Asmara and expel 10 Eritrean diplomats.
- The international community is urging restraint and a return to dialogue to prevent further escalation and undermine the progress made in the 2018 peace agreement.
