Latest news with #IsaiasAfwerki
The South African
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The South African
Eritrea's president warns of war as Ethiopia eyes Red Sea access
Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki warned Ethiopia against launching a war over seaport access on 20 July 2025. Afwerki stated that Eritrea would resist any 'human wave' military strategy by Ethiopia's larger population. Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has renewed calls for sea access through Eritrean territory. Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a deadly war from 1998 to 2000, which claimed tens of thousands of lives. Afwerki accused Abiy of attempting to divert attention from Ethiopia's internal crises. The president's remarks follow Ethiopia's revived seaport ambitions since early 2023. Eritrean forces have remained present in parts of northern Ethiopia, including areas of Tigray, despite provisions in the 2022 Pretoria Agreement that required the withdrawal of all non-ENDF forces. The Pretoria Agreement, signed on 2 November 2022, mandated the withdrawal of Eritrean and other non-federal forces from the Tigray region. In March 2025, Ethiopia's federal army engaged in intense clashes with the Fano militia in the Amhara region, resulting in over 300 reported militia deaths. Gerrit Kurtz, senior researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), has stated that Eritrea benefits strategically from Ethiopia's internal divisions. Eritrean authorities have denied these allegations, labelling the reports of their military involvement as 'fabricated' and politically motivated. According to a June 2025 report by The Sentry, Eritrean forces looted factories, gold, and cultural artefacts from the Tigray region during the war. The report documents how looted gold and antiques were smuggled into Eritrea and monetised through state-controlled networks. Eritrean military officials used the proceeds to finance logistics and sustain war operations in Tigray. The United Nations imposed an arms embargo on Eritrea in 2009 under Resolution 1907, which was lifted in November 2018 following the peace agreement with Ethiopia. In 2019, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Nobel Peace Prize for initiating the peace process with Eritrea; President Isaias Afwerki was not included as a laureate. Despite the 2022 Pretoria Agreement mandating foreign troop withdrawal, credible reports say Eritrean forces remain in northern Ethiopia, sparking regional stability concerns. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has publicly reiterated his support for peace, including fully implementing the 2022 Pretoria Agreement. However, he faces growing political pressure ahead of the 2026 national elections. Analysts such as William Davison (International Crisis Group) and Gerrit Kurtz (SWP) warn that Abiy may exploit ongoing tensions to consolidate domestic political support. Tigray's interim president, Getachew Reda, has called for restraint and denied any provocation from his administration amid renewed cross-regional accusations. Factions within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) remain divided, hindering regional diplomacy and delaying full disarmament under the peace deal. International bodies, including the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), continue to urge inclusive dialogue to prevent a relapse into conflict. The Horn of Africa remains geopolitically volatile, as overlapping crises in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia fuel regional instability. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Eritrean president warns Ethiopia against waging war
NAIROBI: Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has warned neighbor Ethiopia against launching a new war between the bitter foes, with tensions high in the Horn of Africa region. Eritrea and Ethiopia have had fraught relations since the former declared independence in 1993, with tens of thousands of people killed in a war between the two from 1998 to 2000. At the heart of the current tension, according to the Eritrean government, is landlocked Ethiopia's long-held desire for a seaport. Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea with an iron fist since independence, warned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that he would not be able to simply overwhelm his country by weight of numbers — Ethiopia's population is 130 million, compared to just 3.5 million people living in Eritrea. 'If he thinks he can overwhelm (Eritrean forces) with human wave attack, (he is mistaken),' Afwerki told state television channel Eri-TV. 'Before dragging the people of Ethiopia into unwanted wars or using them for another political agenda, the country's internal problems must be first addressed and solved,' he said. He called Abiy's actions a 'reckless' attempt to 'divert attention' from domestic problems. Abiy signed a peace deal with Afwerki shortly after coming to power in 2018, but a violent conflict erupted in Ethiopia's Tigray province from 2020 to 2022 as Eritrea's forces backed rebels there fighting Ethiopian troops. At least 600,000 people were killed in the conflict, according to an African Union estimate. Although a peace deal ended the fighting, Eritrea has maintained a military presence in Tigray and relations between the neighbors have deteriorated. Abiy has repeatedly said Ethiopia must have access to the sea, but by peaceful means. Last month, a report by a US monitoring group accused Eritrea of rebuilding its army and destabilising its neighbors. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel criticized the report by NGO The Sentry and blamed 'the new tension in the region' on Ethiopia. Eritrea had been under US arms sanctions that were lifted after the 2018 peace deal. Eritrea is a single-party state which consistently ranks among the worst in the world for rights — in last place for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, and 175th out of 183 for human development in 2022, according to the United Nations.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Eritrean President warns Ethiopia against waging war
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has warned neighbor Ethiopia against launching a new war between the bitter foes, with tensions high in the Horn of Africa region. Eritrea and Ethiopia have had fraught relations since the former declared independence in 1993, with tens of thousands of people killed in a war between the two from 1998 to 2000. At the heart of the current tension, according to the Eritrean government, is landlocked Ethiopia's long-held desire for a seaport. Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea with an iron fist since independence, warned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that he would not be able to simply overwhelm his country by weight of numbers -- Ethiopia's population is 130 million, compared to just 3.5 million people living in Eritrea. 'If he thinks he can overwhelm (Eritrean forces) with human wave attack, (he is mistaken),' Afwerki told state television channel Eri-TV. 'Before dragging the people of Ethiopia into unwanted wars or using them for another political agenda, the country's internal problems must be first addressed and solved,' he said. He called Abiy's actions a 'reckless' attempt to 'divert attention' from domestic problems. Abiy signed a peace deal with Afwerki shortly after coming to power in 2018, but a violent conflict erupted in Ethiopia's Tigray province from 2020 to 2022 as Eritrea's forces backed rebels there fighting Ethiopian troops. At least 600,000 people were killed in the conflict, according to an African Union estimate. Although a peace deal ended the fighting, Eritrea has maintained a military presence in Tigray and relations between the neighbors have deteriorated. Abiy has repeatedly said Ethiopia must have access to the sea, but by peaceful means. Last month, a report by a US monitoring group accused Eritrea of rebuilding its army and destabilizing its neighbors. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel criticized the report by NGO The Sentry and blamed 'the new tension in the region' on Ethiopia. Eritrea had been under US arms sanctions that were lifted after the 2018 peace deal. Eritrea is a single-party state which consistently ranks among the worst in the world for rights -- in last place for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, and 175th out of 183 for human development in 2022, according to the United Nations.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
A look at Eritrea's role as new Tigray war looms in Ethiopia
AI- Representative Image Reports of troop movements and sporadic clashes in northern Ethiopia have emerged in recent months, feeding concern that a fragile calm could soon collapse. The region is still reeling from the brutal two-year civil war between the tigray people's liberation front (TPLF) and federal government forces — a conflict that claimed an estimated 600,000 lives before it ended with the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. "We can't plan anything at the moment," a woman in Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, told DW. "We're just trying to survive. A new war could break out tomorrow." She described a climate of fear that has gripped many residents. "Life has become incredibly expensive. We need a peaceful solution so we can return to work and rebuild our lives." During that war, Eritrean troops supported Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed's campaign against the TPLF. But critics warned at the time that peace would remain fragile without Eritrea at the negotiating table. President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea for decades, was notably absent from the talks in the South African's administrative capital, Pretoria. Now, growing fears of renewed violence point towards Eritrea's involvement. Internal division in Tigray Another destabilizing factor is the political turmoil within Tigray itself. The once-dominant TPLF has fractured after internal power struggles — a vulnerability Eritrea could potentially exploit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Following the split, General Tadesse Werede, former commander of the defeated Tigrayd Defence forces (TDF), was appointed head of the Tigray interim government in Mekelle. He has urged caution against misinformation and vowed, "There will be no war and no provocation from Tigray's side." On the other side of the divide is TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael. His faction has been accused of cooperating with Eritrea — a claim it strongly denies. Debretsion has called for a political resolution grounded in the Pretoria agreement: "We urge the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government, its agents, and allies to refrain from preparing for war." Despite these reassurances, fear is spreading among civilians. "People are withdrawing their money from banks and stockpiling essentials like oil and teff [an Ethiopian cereal]," a resident of Mekele told DW. He called on both TPLF factions "to step aside — or to use their influence to work with the central government to resolve the crisis and prevent war." Eritrea's interest in a fragmented Ethiopia A full-scale inter-state war may be unlikely, but proxy conflicts are a real possibility, said Gerrit Kurtz, Horn of Africa expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a Berlin-based think tank. "Eritrea benefits when Ethiopia is weakened — when it's internally fragmented and beset by local conflicts," Kurtz told DW. "That's why the internal crises we've seen over the past few years — many of which are supported, or at least exploited, by Eritrea — serve its strategic interests." Observers say Eritrea has trained armed groups inside Ethiopia — including, reportedly, the Fano militia in Amhara region. In March, Fano fighters clashed with Ethiopian federal troops in a two-day battle that, according to Addis Ababa, left more than 300 militia members dead. Arms, resources and influence Eritrea has a long and contentious history with Ethiopia. After colonial rule ended, the country was absorbed into a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, and later forcibly annexed — a move that sparked a decades-long independence struggle. Eritrea finally broke away in 1993, costing Ethiopia its only direct access to the sea. Since then, Eritrea has become one of the world's most repressive and isolated regimes under Isaias Afwerki. In 2010, the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on the country. According to a new report by the US-based watchdog group The Sentry, Eritrea has used its involvement in the Tigray conflict to strengthen its position significantly. "We identified two clear patterns," said Charles Cater, lead investigator for The Sentry, in an interview with DW. "First, the systematic looting of Tigray during the war — factories were dismantled and moved across the border. Everything of value was taken to Eritrea. " The second pattern, he said, was illicit trade: Eritrea profited from smuggling gold, sesame, cultural artifacts, and even people from Tigray. The resulting foreign currency is believed to have helped fund Eritrea's ongoing operations in Ethiopia. Another pivotal moment came in 2018, when Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement, ending years of open hostility. Prime Minister Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the breakthrough — but Afwerki was left out, despite the deal helping to lift the UN arms embargo against Eritrea. The Sentry also documented how Eritrea subsequently bought weapons, including from Russia. In response, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel dismissed the report as a "fabricated narrative" meant to scapegoat Eritrea. Abiy's calculations and border tensions The Eritrean military is reportedly strengthening its positions near the Tigray border and may have advanced up to 10 kilometres (6 miles) into Ethiopian territory, according to The Sentry. Both sides had previously agreed to a new border alignment during the 2018 thaw in relations. The Pretoria Agreement stipulated the withdrawal of all non-federal forces from Tigray — including Eritrean troops. It is now up to the Ethiopian government to find a political solution, both with Eritrea and with the divided TPLF, noted SWP's Gerrit Kurtz. "Abiy's strategy is to keep all domestic rivals weak enough that they can't unite against him. That means sometimes aligning with certain factions, while repressing others. But it's a high-stakes game," Kurtz said. Ethiopia is scheduled to hold national elections next year, and analysts warn that Abiy could use the Tigray crisis as political leverage. Since 2023, he has also revived calls for Ethiopia to secure its own access to the sea — a move that has already fuelled diplomatic tensions with Somalia and led some to fear a potential military incursion into Eritrea. For now, Abiy has publicly reiterated his commitment to peace. Survivor recounts Tigray civilian massacres
DW
6 days ago
- Politics
- DW
A look at Eritrea's role as new Tigray war looms in Ethiopia – DW – 07/16/2025
Northern Ethiopia is growing increasingly tense two and a half years after the Tigray peace deal. Eritrea appears intent on sowing instability in the region. A new report traces how separatists have quietly rearmed. Reports of troop movements and sporadic clashes in northern Ethiopia have emerged in recent months, feeding concern that a fragile calm could soon collapse. The region is still reeling from the brutal two-year civil war between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal government forces — a conflict that claimed an estimated 600,000 lives before it ended with the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. "We can't plan anything at the moment," a woman in Mekele, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, told DW. "We're just trying to survive. A new war could break out tomorrow." She described a climate of fear that has gripped many residents. "Life has become incredibly expensive. We need a peaceful solution so we can return to work and rebuild our lives." During that war, Eritrean troops supported Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's campaign against the TPLF. But critics warned at the time that peace would remain fragile without Eritrea at the negotiating table. President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea for decades, was notably absent from the talks in the South African's administrative capital, Pretoria. Now, growing fears of renewed violence point towards Eritrea's involvement. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another destabilizing factor is the political turmoil within Tigray itself. The once-dominant TPLF has fractured after internal power struggles — a vulnerability Eritrea could potentially exploit. Following the split, General Tadesse Werede, former commander of the defeated Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), was appointed head of the Tigray interim government in Mekelle. He has urged caution against misinformation and vowed, "There will be no war and no provocation from Tigray's side." On the other side of the divide is TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael. His faction has been accused of cooperating with Eritrea — a claim it strongly denies. Debretsion has called for a political resolution grounded in the Pretoria agreement: "We urge the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government, its agents, and allies to refrain from preparing for war." Despite these reassurances, fear is spreading among civilians. "People are withdrawing their money from banks and stockpiling essentials like oil and teff [an Ethiopian cereal]," a resident of Mekele told DW. He called on both TPLF factions "to step aside — or to use their influence to work with the central government to resolve the crisis and prevent war." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A full-scale inter-state war may be unlikely, but proxy conflicts are a real possibility, said Gerrit Kurtz, Horn of Africa expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), a Berlin-based think tank. "Eritrea benefits when Ethiopia is weakened — when it's internally fragmented and beset by local conflicts," Kurtz told DW. "That's why the internal crises we've seen over the past few years — many of which are supported, or at least exploited, by Eritrea — serve its strategic interests." Observers say Eritrea has trained armed groups inside Ethiopia — including, reportedly, the Fano militia in Amhara region. In March, Fano fighters clashed with Ethiopian federal troops in a two-day battle that, according to Addis Ababa, left more than 300 militia members dead. Eritrea has a long and contentious history with Ethiopia. After colonial rule ended, the country was absorbed into a federation with Ethiopia in 1952, and later forcibly annexed — a move that sparked a decades-long independence struggle. Eritrea finally broke away in 1993, costing Ethiopia its only direct access to the sea. Since then, Eritrea has become one of the world's most repressive and isolated regimes under Isaias Afwerki. In 2010, the United Nations imposed an arms embargo on the country. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video According to a new report by the US-based watchdog group The Sentry, Eritrea has used its involvement in the Tigray conflict to strengthen its position significantly. "We identified two clear patterns," said Charles Cater, lead investigator for The Sentry, in an interview with DW. "First, the systematic looting of Tigray during the war — factories were dismantled and moved across the border. Everything of value was taken to Eritrea." The second pattern, he said, was illicit trade: Eritrea profited from smuggling gold, sesame, cultural artifacts, and even people from Tigray. The resulting foreign currency is believed to have helped fund Eritrea's ongoing operations in Ethiopia. Another pivotal moment came in 2018, when Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace agreement, ending years of open hostility. Prime Minister Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the breakthrough — but Afwerki was left out, despite the deal helping to lift the UN arms embargo against Eritrea. The Sentry also documented how Eritrea subsequently bought weapons, including from Russia. In response, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel dismissed the report as a "fabricated narrative" meant to scapegoat Eritrea. The Eritrean military is reportedly strengthening its positions near the Tigray border and may have advanced up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Ethiopian territory, according to The Sentry. Both sides had previously agreed to a new border alignment during the 2018 thaw in relations. The Pretoria Agreement stipulated the withdrawal of all non-federal forces from Tigray — including Eritrean troops. It is now up to the Ethiopian government to find a political solution, both with Eritrea and with the divided TPLF, noted SWP's Gerrit Kurtz. "Abiy's strategy is to keep all domestic rivals weak enough that they can't unite against him. That means sometimes aligning with certain factions, while repressing others. But it's a high-stakes game," Kurtz said. Ethiopia is scheduled to hold national elections next year, and analysts warn that Abiy could use the Tigray crisis as political leverage. Since 2023, he has also revived calls for Ethiopia to secure its own access to the sea — a move that has already fueled diplomatic tensions with Somalia and led some to fear a potential military incursion into Eritrea. For now, Abiy has publicly reiterated his commitment to peace. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
