The United States has called for restraint between Ethiopia and Eritrea as renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia threatens to deepen instability in the Horn of Africa and undermine earlier peace agreements.
According to the Associated Press, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday, urging dialogue and respect for regional sovereignty. The appeal followed escalating tensions between the neighbouring countries and reports of civilian casualties in the Tigray region.
The latest confrontation has intensified accusations between Addis Ababa and Asmara. Ethiopia has accused Eritrean forces of occupying parts of its territory, while Eritrea has condemned what it described as an Ethiopian declaration of war.
Fighting in Tigray has also undermined the 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia.
Human Rights Watch said it had received reports of civilians being killed and injured by shelling in southern Tigray. The organization did not identify which party was responsible for those incidents.
The renewed tensions have raised concerns about the humanitarian consequences for communities still recovering from the previous war, which caused extensive destruction and displacement.
Ethiopia’s interest in securing access to the Red Sea adds a strategic dimension to the dispute. The country has been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, making regional transport corridors and port access central issues in its foreign policy.
Washington’s intervention reflects wider international concern that a new confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea could destabilize neighbouring countries and complicate security across the Horn of Africa.
The immediate diplomatic challenge is to prevent further military escalation while preserving the fragile agreements intended to restore stability in northern Ethiopia.
