Eritrea Denies Ethiopian Claims as Tensions Rise in the Horn of Africa

By: Adamu Aliyu Ngulde

Tensions are escalating in the Horn of Africa after Eritrea firmly rejected Ethiopia’s claims that its troops were operating inside Ethiopian territory, dismissing the allegations as false and misleading.

The dispute has renewed concerns about instability between the two neighboring countries, whose relations have long been marked by conflict and mistrust.

Ethiopia had accused Eritrea of maintaining a military presence within its borders and demanded an immediate withdrawal, alleging that Eritrean forces were supporting insurgent groups in the Amhara region.

Eritrea swiftly denied the claims, insisting that it had not deployed troops in Ethiopian territory and had no role in the internal conflict.

In a statement, Eritrea’s Information Minister described the accusations as fabricated and part of what he called a hostile campaign against the country.

He maintained that Eritrea had no intention of escalating tensions and warned against what he portrayed as attempts to damage its reputation on the international stage.

Relations between the two countries have remained fragile since Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

Over the years, disputes have repeatedly flared, most notably during a brutal border war between 1998 and 2000 that claimed tens of thousands of lives and left deep scars on both sides.

More recently, Eritrea was involved in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, a war that resulted in widespread destruction and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

Although a peace agreement brought a formal end to the fighting, mistrust and unresolved grievances continue to shape relations.

Analysts say lingering disagreements over troop withdrawals, alleged support for armed groups, and Ethiopia’s interest in securing access to the sea remain key sources of tension.

As both countries trade accusations, observers fear that renewed hostility could threaten stability across the wider Horn of Africa.