Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Supporting Rebels, Demands Troop Exit

— The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal demand that Eritrean forces withdraw from Ethiopian territory and stop supporting armed groups inside Ethiopia, according to a diplomatic letter from Dr. Gedion Timothewos to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh dated 7 February.

In the letter, Addis Ababa says repeated appeals to end what it describes as violations of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty have been ignored and warns that recent actions represent a dangerous escalation. The note accuses Eritrean troops of advancing further into northeastern border areas and of conducting joint military maneuvers with rebel groups in the northwest, calling those moves “not just provocations but acts of outright aggression.”

Ethiopia’s demand is clear: an immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Ethiopian soil and an end to all collaboration with rebel groups. The letter frames those steps as necessary to halt further escalation and restore stability along the shared border.

At the same time, the communication offers a path back to diplomacy. Addis Ababa says that if Eritrea responds positively to its demand for respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Ethiopian government is willing to enter good‑faith negotiations on a comprehensive settlement. Proposed topics for talks include maritime affairs and access to the sea via the port of Assab, issues that have long complicated relations between the two countries.

The letter also appeals to history and common ties, noting that conflict has shaped relations between the neighbors for more than half a century and urging a break from that cycle through dialogue. Described as a goodwill gesture, the note urges Eritrea to choose “peace and prosperity over conflict and chaos” for the benefit of both peoples and the wider region.

How Eritrea responds will determine whether the dispute moves toward negotiations or further confrontation.