Eritrea rejects accusations from former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome of involvement in regional conflicts and interfering in Ethiopia’s internal matters. Eritrea asserts these issues stem from Ethiopia’s own crises and emphasizes its commitment to regional peace. The statement comes amid strained relations following the recent Tigray conflict and tensions over maritime access negotiations involving Ethiopia and Somaliland.
Eritrea’s Ministry of Information has firmly denied accusations from Mulatu Teshome, former Ethiopian president, alleging that Eritrea “is involved in almost every major conflict in the Horn of Africa” and poses a threat of reigniting war in northern Ethiopia. Eritrea emphasized that Ethiopia’s domestic crises should not be blamed on Asmara, asserting that the issues stem from Ethiopia’s internal political turmoil.
Yemane G. Meskel, Eritrea’s Minister of Information, criticized the accusations as an “audacious claim” designed to distract from a war-mongering agenda. He reaffirmed Eritrea’s commitment to peace and regional stability, stating that externalizing Ethiopia’s conflicts would not address the underlying issues. This remark followed the historical context of the 1998-2000 border conflict, which Eritrea attributes to Ethiopia’s occupation.
Despite a normalization of ties in 2018 after lengthy tensions, relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have soured again following the recent Pretoria agreement aimed at resolving the Tigray conflict. Eritrea justified its military involvement by asserting it supported Ethiopian troops and refuted claims of dissatisfaction with the Pretoria deal, calling it strictly an internal Ethiopian issue without Eritrea’s interference.
Addressing accusations of Eritrean influence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region conflicts, Eritrea reasserted that Ethiopia’s problems are domestically sourced and should not be projected onto neighboring countries. Additionally, Eritrea expressed concern regarding Ethiopia’s pursuit of maritime access, linking it to regional tensions exacerbated by an MOU with Somaliland.
In an article published in Al-Jazeera, Mulatu accused Eritrea of trying to exploit divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). However, Eritrea’s official statement did not address this specific claim, maintaining its position on Ethiopia’s internal conflicts.
Eritrea’s strong rejection of former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome’s accusations highlights the complexities of regional politics in the Horn of Africa. The Eritrean government insists that Ethiopia’s internal issues should not be externalized to Asmara, reaffirming its commitment to peace and stability while criticizing Ethiopia’s efforts to engage in regional maritime negotiations. The evolving relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains critical to understanding the ongoing tensions in the region.
Original Source: addisstandard.com
