Eritrea Requests UN Intervention Amid Tensions with Ethiopia

Eritrea has requested the United Nations to take "deterrent measures" following what it termed Ethiopia's "declaration of war" related to the conflict over the Tigray region. This request was made after Ethiopia accused Eritrea of launching an "all-out invasion," claiming that Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) into Tigray. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh stated that the accusations of an Eritrean incursion were part of an Ethiopian strategy to justify aggression and called for UN intervention under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which permits actions ranging from sanctions to military intervention. Both countries have accused each other of instigating the conflict in Tigray, where Ethiopia alleges Eritrea is supporting rebel forces. An alliance of seven armed groups recently attacked federal Ethiopian forces in the region, aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Eritrean forces have reportedly crossed into Ethiopian territory, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of backing the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The Ethiopian military has pushed back TPLF rebels and claimed to have conducted drone strikes against Eritrean troops. Saleh urged the UN Security Council to condemn Ethiopia's actions, warning that they could lead to significant devastation for both nations and destabilize the region. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of aggression and invoked Ethiopia's right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, although he did not detail any specific measures being taken. Faisal Roble, a Horn of Africa specialist, indicated that both nations appear to be preparing for a potential open conflict, suggesting that their communications with the UN are largely for posturing and seeking international support. Saleh criticized Ethiopia's claims as deceitful and lacking substance. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel accused Ethiopia of pursuing aggression through demands for access to the Red Sea, while Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy reiterated the necessity for Ethiopia to have direct sea access. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, and the two nations fought a border war from 1998 to 2000. Although relations improved after Abiy's rise to power in 2018, tensions have escalated again in recent years, with Ethiopia asserting its right to sea access, which Eritrea views as a potential threat to its port at Assab. The TPLF previously battled Ethiopian government forces, supported by Eritrea, during a conflict from 2020 to 2022.