Eritrea: Ethiopia Accuses Sudan, Eritrea of Backing Tigray Forces As Fighting Escalates
[RFI] Addis Ababa has accused Sudan and Eritrea of backing armed groups fighting its federal forces in the north, claims Khartoum has rejected as renewed clashes raise fears of a return to full-scale conflict.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, has accused Sudan and Eritrea of backing armed groups fighting against Ethiopia's federal forces in the north. These claims have been rejected by Sudan, which dismissed the allegations as "baseless" and emphasized its commitment to international law and good relations with neighboring countries. The situation has escalated following heavy fighting between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal forces, with Tigrayan fighters advancing into neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.
At least 150,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict, though precise figures are difficult to determine due to communication difficulties. Ethiopian army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula accused Sudan, Egypt, and Eritrea of providing support and supplies to the armed groups, though he did not present any public evidence to back these claims.
Egypt and Eritrea have not publicly responded to these accusations. The accusations reflect a broader deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and several of its neighbors, with Sudan accusing Ethiopia of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighting in Sudan. Both Ethiopia and the UAE have denied these allegations.
The latest fighting has revived memories of the 2020-2022 war, which killed an estimated 600,000 people and was marked by widespread abuses. Communications in Tigray have again been heavily disrupted, raising fears of a return to the isolation experienced during the previous conflict. The headquarters of Tigrai TV in the regional capital Mekelle was struck by a drone on Sunday, causing damage to the building and disrupting its operations.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has expressed concern over the renewed fighting, particularly the use of drones and harm to civilians. A new opposition alliance has emerged, with Ethiopia's TPLF joining six other armed groups. The TPLF's offensive into Afar also threatens trade routes linking landlocked Ethiopia with Djibouti, which are crucial for the country's international trade.
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