Ethiopia has formally demanded that Eritrea immediately withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory, escalating tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbours amid fragile post-war dynamics in northern Ethiopia.
The demand was issued as Ethiopian authorities accused Eritrean forces of maintaining a continued military presence in parts of the country, despite commitments linked to the cessation of hostilities that ended the two-year conflict in the Tigray region in late 2022.
Addis Ababa insists that the presence of Eritrean troops violates Ethiopia’s sovereignty and undermines ongoing efforts to stabilise areas affected by the war, particularly in Tigray. Ethiopian officials argue that lasting peace and reconstruction cannot be achieved while foreign forces remain deployed inside the country.
Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces during the war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. While the Pretoria peace agreement led to a halt in major hostilities, questions over the withdrawal of Eritrean forces have remained a major point of contention.
The TPLF and humanitarian organisations have repeatedly accused Eritrean troops of abuses against civilians in areas they are alleged to control, claims that Asmara has consistently denied.
The renewed call by Ethiopia for an immediate withdrawal comes amid delicate political negotiations, humanitarian recovery efforts and attempts to restore basic services in northern regions devastated by the war.
Neither Eritrea nor Ethiopia provided immediate details on any timetable for troop withdrawal. Regional observers warn that unresolved military issues between the two countries risk destabilising an already volatile region if not addressed through diplomatic channels.
