Eritrea has mobilized its military reserves and imposed new travel restrictions on citizens amid rising tensions with neighboring Ethiopia, according to sources and local reports.
Authorities have ordered all former military personnel under the age of 60 to report for training, a move signaling heightened concerns over potential conflict. With a population of fewer than 4 million, Eritrea’s sweeping mobilization includes married individuals with children and those previously avoiding compulsory service. Officials have assured that returning service members will not face punishment.
Travel restrictions now bar Eritreans under 50 from leaving the country without special approval. Residents in Asmara say local administrative offices have briefed citizens on the new regulations. “My father was denied an exit visa, while my mother received one,” said an Eritrean living in Europe, speaking anonymously to the BBC’s Amharic service.
The crackdown extends beyond military-age men. Women engaged in cross-border trade, particularly with Turkey and the UAE, are reportedly affected, and there are signs that female citizens may soon be required to report for military training.
The measures come as diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia worsen. Earlier this week, Eritrea accused Ethiopia of “warmongering” after former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome wrote in Al Jazeera alleging Eritrean cooperation with factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Eritrea denies collaborating with groups seeking to destabilize Ethiopia.
Speculation of Eritrea closing its embassy in Addis Ababa has been dismissed by officials, though diplomatic ties remain strained. The region, still reeling from recent conflict in northern Ethiopia, now faces renewed fears of escalation.
