Ethiopian PM requests mediation to ease tensions with Eritrea
(MENAFN) Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has formally requested international mediation to address rising tensions with neighboring Eritrea over access to the Red Sea.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Abiy said he had already engaged in discussions with China, Russia, the US, the African Union, and the European Union, and officially asked these parties to help facilitate a “lasting solution” between Addis Ababa and Asmara.
“Ethiopia’s request for access to the sea is irreversible…We believe that the Red Sea issue is a legal, historical, geographical, and economic matter that must be approached calmly and thoughtfully,” he stated.
Ethiopia lost direct access to the Red Sea when Eritrea became independent in 1993 following a long war. Tensions flared again in 1998 over disputed areas near Badme, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides before a 2000 peace agreement created a boundary commission. Relations improved in 2018 after Abiy assumed office, and Eritrean forces later supported Ethiopia’s federal troops during the Tigray War between 2020 and 2022.
In recent months, however, ties have deteriorated amid accusations from Addis Ababa that Eritrea is preparing for potential conflict and cooperating with rebel groups operating in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region.
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