Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has assured that his country has no intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea over access to the Red Sea, amid growing concerns of a potential war between the neighboring nations.

"Ethiopia does not seek confrontation with Eritrea in pursuit of sea access," Abiy stated on Thursday in a message posted by his office on X. While acknowledging that access to the Red Sea is a critical issue for landlocked Ethiopia, he emphasized that his government is committed to resolving the matter through peaceful dialogue.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks following reports of Eritrea’s nationwide military mobilization, as revealed by a human rights organization, and Ethiopia’s deployment of troops toward the border, according to diplomatic sources and officials cited by Reuters.

Eritrea, meanwhile, has expressed strong opposition to Ethiopia’s aspirations, accusing it of coveting the port of Assab. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel dismissed Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions as “misguided and outdated,” warning against efforts to secure a naval base through diplomatic or military means. He urged the international community to pressure Ethiopia into respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors.

Yemane also rejected claims that Eritrea was preparing for war against Ethiopia, calling such accusations baseless.

A renewed conflict between two of Africa’s largest military forces would undo the historic peace agreement that earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and could trigger a humanitarian crisis in a region already suffering from the effects of the Sudan conflict.

During Ethiopia’s 2020-2022 civil war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Eritrean forces intervened in support of Ethiopia’s central government. However, the 2022 peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, which Eritrea was not a party to, created new tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Since then, divisions have emerged within the TPLF, with rival factions vying for control over Tigray’s interim administration. The current leadership, backed by Ethiopia’s federal government, has accused the dissident faction of aligning with Eritrea. Meanwhile, the dissidents claim that their rivals have failed to safeguard Tigrayan interests—allegations both sides deny.

On Thursday, Abiy announced to parliament that the term of Tigray’s interim administration had been extended for another year, with certain modifications. However, he did not clarify whether these changes would include new leadership appointments—a key demand of the dissident faction.

"In accordance with the Pretoria agreement, the interim administration will remain in place until the next general elections in 2026," he stated.

Source: News Agencies