Omanghana
Eritrea has asked the United Nations Security Council to take “deterrent measures” against Ethiopia, describing Addis Ababa’s allegations of an Eritrean invasion as a “declaration of war.”
In a letter reported on Saturday, October 10, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh rejected the accusations and alleged that Ethiopia was constructing a justification for military aggression. He requested action under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, without specifying the measures sought. Reuters said it could not independently verify the alleged incursion.
Ethiopia has presented a sharply different account, accusing Eritrean troops of advancing as far as 60 kilometers into its northern Tigray region. Addis Ababa described the alleged operation as an “all-out invasion” and said it would defend its territory.
In a separate communication to the Security Council, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos invoked the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. He did not detail the measures Ethiopia was taking.
The diplomatic confrontation coincides with renewed military activity in Tigray. Footage obtained by the Associated Press showed Ethiopian troops and military vehicles entering Adigrat on Saturday. Residents described shortages of food and medical care, alongside continued bank closures.
Relations between the neighbors have also deteriorated over Ethiopia’s pursuit of direct access to the Red Sea. Landlocked since Eritrea’s independence in 1993, Ethiopia regards maritime access as a major national priority. Eritrea views the rhetoric as a threat to its sovereignty, while Addis Ababa has said it seeks a peaceful solution through dialogue.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian government-allied forces have retaken Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, following the withdrawal of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The renewed fighting threatens the fragile settlement reached in 2022 to end the previous war.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and renewed dialogue, amid concerns that further escalation could destabilize the wider Horn of Africa.
Source: Omanghana
