Key facts
- Ethiopian troops advanced to Zalambessa, a town on the border with Eritrea.
- Eritrean troops had previously crossed into Zalambessa in support of Tigrayan rebels.
- Eritrea accused Ethiopia of a "declaration of war" and requested UN action.
- Fighting broke out in Ethiopia last month between a rebel alliance and the government.
- Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing the rebels and stated Eritrean troops advanced 60 km inside Ethiopia.
Ethiopian government troops have advanced to Zalambessa, a town on the border with Eritrea that was previously controlled by Tigrayan rebels, people in touch with residents said on Tuesday. The move has heightened fears of a wider conflict between the two Horn of Africa neighbors, with diplomats scrambling to avert war.
Witnesses and a conflict monitor reported that Eritrean troops had crossed into Zalambessa last week in support of the rebels, though it was unclear if they were still present on Tuesday. Asmara has denied any incursion into Ethiopia and has asked the UN to take deterrent measures against Addis Ababa, arguing that Ethiopia's accusations amounted to a "declaration of war."
Fighting reignited in Ethiopia last month as a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) went on the offensive, following a war that killed hundreds of thousands between 2020-2022. With Ethiopia and Eritrea now on opposing sides again, and other conflicts raging in the region, concerns are high for broader contagion of violence.
The Ethiopian government's counter-offensive has led to rebels retreating north from several towns. By Tuesday, the army had reached Zalambessa, a town with a population of around 15,000, according to six sources including people in touch with residents, a diplomat, and an expert on the conflict.
Ethiopia and Eritrea, who made peace in 2018, had previously fought together during Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray, but relations have since deteriorated. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing the rebels and informed Security Council members that Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 km inside Ethiopia. Eritrea's Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has requested the Security Council take action against Addis Ababa, invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Security Council members were scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting on the situation.
Relations have also been strained by issues of sea access. Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993 and argues that restoring sea access is an existential issue, to be resolved through peace and dialogue.