The Spokesperson of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew, held a press conference on current affairs yesterday. Among the questions posed by journalists was an article shared by former Ethiopian Ambassador Dr. Teshome Mulatu regarding Eritrea.

In an article posted on Al Jazeera two weeks ago, the former president stated, “Isaias Afwerki’s government is moving to start another war in northern Ethiopia. It is time to stop a new conflict in East Africa.” Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, dismissed the points raised by the former Ethiopian president in an article he shared on his X page.

When asked about the former president’s opinion and the Eritrean government’s response, Ambassador Nebiat replied, “The former president’s opinion is his personal opinion, not the Ethiopian government’s position.” Ambassador Nebiat Getachew further clarified in his Friday press conference that “the former Ethiopian president gave his personal opinion based on his experience in the region” and emphasized that it does not reflect the position of the Ethiopian government.

In his article on Al Jazeera, the former president pointed out that President Isaias used the Tigray war “as an opportunity” to send his troops into the region, causing “destruction.” However, the Pretoria agreement that ended the war created an “obstacle.”

The former president argued that since President Isaias expands his influence through conflict, peace will be an obstacle for him. He claimed that they want endless conflict in the Tigray region and accused them of working with TPLF leaders “who were unhappy with the Pretoria accord,” according to the article.

The former President of Ethiopia also called on the international community to put diplomatic pressure on President Isaias, warning that the problem in Ethiopia will affect the region. Eritrea’s Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, responded to the accusations made by Dr. Mulatu. Yemane dismissed the accusation that “Eritrea is igniting a new conflict in the Horn of Africa” as false and described it as the usual “ancient fashion.”

One of the issues raised in yesterday’s Foreign Ministry statement was the relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia. When asked about Ethiopia’s port agreement with Somaliland signed a year ago, the spokesperson, Ambassador Nebiat, refrained from responding. The spokesperson stated that Ethiopia has agreed to increase its relations and cooperation with Somalia and said, “Ethiopia has not given up on its efforts to meet its port needs based on the principle of give and take.”

Efforts are continuing through the embassies in Tokyo and New Delhi to repatriate Ethiopians who have been tricked by illegal brokers to Thailand and Myanmar and are in a difficult situation, the ambassador stated.