Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has dismissed the prospect of war with Eritrea over Red Sea access, advocating for peaceful negotiations instead. Recent tensions had raised concerns about military mobilization from both sides, risking a return to conflict which could lead to humanitarian crises, undoing the progress achieved since the historic peace agreement in 2019.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed affirmed on Thursday that his government is not planning to engage in military conflict with Eritrea regarding access to the Red Sea. His comments arise amidst rising concerns about potential warfare between the two bordering nations. In a statement shared by his office on X, Abiy emphasized, “Ethiopia does not have any intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea to gain access to the sea.”
Abiy acknowledged that gaining access to the Red Sea is a significant issue for landlocked Ethiopia, yet he stressed the preference for achieving a peaceful resolution through diplomatic negotiations. Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions, highlighted by allegations of Eritrea initiating a full military mobilization as reported by a human rights organization.
Concerns have escalated as diplomatic sources indicate that Ethiopia has positioned troops along the border, raising fears of possible hostilities. The emergence of renewed conflict between these two powerful armies could not only jeopardize the historic reconciliation that led to Abiy receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 but might also trigger a humanitarian crisis in a region still recovering from the war in Sudan.
Eritrea had previously allied with Ethiopian federal forces during the 2020-2022 conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which resulted in significant loss of life. However, relations deteriorated following Eritrea’s exclusion from peace negotiations that concluded the conflict in November 2022.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia has publicly ruled out military conflict with Eritrea over access to the Red Sea, emphasizing a commitment to peaceful negotiations. Despite rising tensions and mobilization concerns, maintaining dialogue remains a priority for his administration. A renewed confrontation could undo recent progress and provoke a humanitarian crisis in the region, a reality both governments seem keen to avoid after past conflicts.
Original Source: www.tvcnews.tv
