Eritrean soldiers enter northern Ethiopia amid renewed conflict
Eritrean soldiers have entered two towns in northern Ethiopia, a commander allied with Ethiopia’s government stated, as military officers were reported conducting surveillance in one of the towns. Residents noted that Tigrayan opposition forces had withdrawn from the city of Shire, reports BritPanorama.
Ermiyas Ababu, a Tigray Peace Force commander based in Mekelle, said Eritrean personnel entered Adigrat on Tuesday and Idaga Hamus on Wednesday. He reported that Eritrean military officers and commanders were conducting surveillance in Idaga Hamus, based on information from his personnel on the ground.
In a related development, conflict monitoring group ACLED mentioned that Eritrean troops crossed the border at Zelambesa on Wednesday, while Ethiopian military drones targeted them at Guada as they advanced toward Idaga Hamus.
The Associated Press has not independently verified these accounts. ACLED provided its report through East Africa analyst Jalale Getachew Birru, but had not responded to requests for clarification by Thursday morning.
The allegations arise amid escalating clashes between Ethiopian government forces and an opposition alliance that includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel accused Ethiopia of fabricating accusations as a pretext for military action against Eritrea. He described the ruling party’s narrative as a “fallacious narrative of ‘self-defense,’” without directly addressing the reported movements or actions detailed by ACLED.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterated on Monday that his landlocked nation must regain access to the Red Sea, a coastal territory lost following Eritrea’s independence in 1993. Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry affirmed on the same day its commitment to dialogue and peaceful engagement with neighboring countries.
Eritrea has rejected claims of support for the TPLF. The previous week, Eritrea severed diplomatic ties after Ethiopia expelled ten Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara.
In Shire, residents Mesu’ud Ahmed and Abadi Halefom informed the Associated Press via telephone on Wednesday evening that they had witnessed the TPLF forces withdrawing earlier that day. They noted that government troops and their allies had not yet entered the town during their call.
Shire has served as a crucial refuge for individuals displaced by the ongoing fighting in Tigray and as a hub for humanitarian aid operations. “TPLF left but the government forces and their allies did not enter the town but we hear that they are coming,” Mesu’ud reported. “Everyone has closed their shops in Shire, and moved their merchandise for fear of looting.”
Government-allied fighters made their way into Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, on Sunday following the TPLF’s announcement of withdrawal. The Tigray Peace Force imposed a curfew there from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
This force includes former members of the TPLF’s military wing, with Ermiyas indicating that they are collaborating with Ethiopian federal troops to extend their control. The TPLF had joined six other opposition groups last month in a coalition aiming to displace Abiy Ahmed’s administration. Renewed fighting late last month has jeopardized the peace agreement reached in November 2022 that ended a devastating two-year conflict.
