Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, accused Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party on Saturday of attempting to “ignite an unjustified war” and reviving expansionist rhetoric, in response to recent comments by Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos.
In a series of posts on social media, Gebremeskel said Ethiopia’s allegations against Eritrea were “not based on facts” and reflected what he called an “institutional inability to confront historical realities,” asserting that the roots of the conflict lie within Ethiopia itself. He accused the Ethiopian government of misleading the public by repackaging old war rhetoric and portraying itself as the aggrieved party.
Gebremeskel also criticized Ethiopia’s apparent shift in tone on its past demands for Red Sea access, saying that Addis Ababa’s current restraint is merely a “maneuver” to justify a potential future war as a defensive measure. “Their current silence is not a reassessment of policy, but a pretext to legitimize aggressive action,” he said.
The Eritrean minister contrasted his government’s stance with Ethiopia’s, emphasizing that Eritrea seeks stability and cooperation in the region. He described the Eritrean people as “brotherly” while criticizing the Ethiopian leadership for maintaining a “guerilla warrior mentality,” a reference to what he called the so-called “Nakfa Syndrome.” He also referred to the “Isayas Doctrine,” an alleged Eritrean policy framework he claims prioritizes Eritrea’s security through Ethiopia’s instability, which he traced to historical proxy influences against Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Eritrean opposition figures welcomed Ethiopia’s remarks, describing them as a “positive step” toward recalibrating relations on more balanced and stable terms. The National Democratic Alliance of Eritrea, a coalition of opposition groups, said in a statement that strengthening cooperation between the Eritrean and Ethiopian peoples could reduce external interference and regional tensions.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a deadly border war from 1998 to 2000, leaving tens of thousands dead. Relations improved after a 2018 peace agreement brokered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, ending two decades of open hostility. However, tensions resurfaced in 2022 following the conclusion of the Tigray conflict in northern Ethiopia, with Addis Ababa accusing Asmara of supporting armed groups in Ethiopia’s Amhara region and interfering in domestic affairs.
Gebremeskel’s latest comments underscore the growing distrust between the two nations and signal the risk of further escalation, even as Eritrean opposition leaders call for renewed dialogue and cooperation.
