Addis Ababa — The Government of Ethiopia has formally warned Eritrea to immediately withdraw its troops from areas it says are part of Ethiopia’s sovereign territory, citing continued violations of its borders in the country’s northern regions.

In a letter sent by Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, to his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh, Ethiopia accused Eritrea of occupying parts of Ethiopian territory in the north-eastern and north-western border areas for an extended period.

The letter states that Ethiopia has repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of Eritrean forces, but these requests have gone unheeded. It describes Eritrea’s continued military presence as a serious violation of Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ethiopia also accused the Eritrean government of providing direct material and logistical support to armed groups operating in border areas, alleging that Eritrean forces are conducting joint military operations with insurgent groups. While the letter does not name specific groups, it recalls earlier Ethiopian accusations that Eritrea has supported armed factions including the TPLF and Fano.

According to the letter, recent developments along the border indicate that Eritrea has chosen “a path of escalation,” with Ethiopian authorities reporting incursions by Eritrean troops into Ethiopian territory in the northeast. In the northwest, Ethiopia said Eritrean forces’ coordination with armed groups amounts to “outright aggression and invasion,” not merely provocation.

Ethiopia has called on Eritrea to:

  • Immediately withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory
  • Cease all cooperation with armed groups operating against Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government stated that if Eritrea respects Ethiopia’s sovereignty and halts these actions, Addis Ababa is prepared to engage in good-faith negotiations on all issues of mutual interest. These include maritime services, access to the sea, and port access through Assab, as well as broader bilateral concerns.

The letter emphasized that decades of conflict between the two countries can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, noting that a peaceful settlement remains possible if Eritrea responds positively.

Ethiopia reaffirmed its readiness to pursue discussions based on mutual respect and shared national interests, but stressed that the current actions by Eritrea are unacceptable under any standard.

The authenticity of the letter was confirmed to the BBC by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew. As of now, no official response has been issued by the Eritrean government.