Ethiopia Demands Eritrea ‘Immediately Withdraw’Troops from Its Territory. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The Ethiopian government has demanded that Eritrea “immediately withdraw “its troops from Ethiopian territory, according to official statements. This demand comes amid escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries, which have a history of conflict.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of military aggression and supporting armed groups inside Ethiopian territory.
The two countries had a war from 1998 to 2000 but signed a peace deal in 2018. Following this, they became allies during Ethiopia’s two-year war against regional authorities in the northern Tigray region.
However, Eritrea was not a party to the 2022 agreement that ended the Tigray conflict, and relations between the two nations have since deteriorated. Timothewos stated in a letter to his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh Mohammed that Eritrean forces had occupied Ethiopian territory along parts of their shared border for an extended period. He also accused Eritrea of providing material support to armed groups operating inside Ethiopia. “.
The incursion[s] of Eritrean troops further into Ethiopian territory … are not just provocations but acts of outright aggression, “Timothewos’s letter. He demanded that Asmara “withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory and cease all forms of collaboration with rebel groups.”Ethiopia remains open to dialogue if Eritrea respects its territorial integrity.
The foreign minister also mentioned that Ethiopia is willing to engage in good — faith negotiations on all matters of mutual interest, including maritime affairs and access to the Red Sea through the Eritrean port of Assab. Eritrea has not yet commented on the letter.
The country, which gained independence in 1993 after decades of armed conflict with Ethiopia, has bristled at repeated public declarations by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that his landlocked country has a right to sea access.
Many in Eritrea, which lies on the Red Sea, view his comments as an implicit threat of military action.
The situation remains tense, with both countries having a history of conflict.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, and further details are expected as the situation develops.
Source: [aljazeera. Com]( Aljazeera.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
