Eritrea urges UN deterrence measures against Ethiopia
Eritrea has officially requested UN Security Council assistance over the conflict in Tigray. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia accuse each other of fueling regional instability.
In the escalating conflict over Eritrea's northern Tigray region, both Eritrea and Ethiopia have turned to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for support. Last week, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter, asserting his nation's right to self-defense against Eritrea. He alleged that Eritrea has deployed ground troops and provided arms to insurgents.
Meanwhile, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh rejected these claims in a letter, urging the UN to "forcefully condemn Ethiopia's deplorable declaration of war against Eritrea" and implement "the requisite deterrent measures" by invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Saleh warned that the conflict could lead to "huge devastation to the peoples of both countries and destabilize the region."
Tigrayan rebel factions recently united to challenge Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, launching attacks on government forces and capturing strategic locations. Since then, Ethiopian forces have pushed back the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters and secured control over significant portions of the region, including its capital, Mekelle.
The recent fighting, which violated a 2022 peace accord, and the recent accusations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have further widened the divide between the two nations, which were once allies during a devastating 2020-2022 border war against the TPLF rebels. The situation is exacerbated by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ongoing insistence on securing access to the Red Sea, which Eritrea perceives as a threat to its own sovereignty.
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