Ethiopian police announced the seizure of ammunition reportedly sent by Eritrea to rebels in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, stoking tensions between the two countries. Eritrea quickly dismissed the claim as a fabrication by Ethiopia to justify war.
The recent developments further strain relations that have soured since the 2018 peace deal between the longtime adversaries. The Ethiopian federal police’s Wednesday statement detailed the capture of 56,000 rounds and the arrest of two suspects in the region embroiled in insurgency since 2023.
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel accused Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government of seeking a pretext for conflict. Meanwhile, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki maintains that while his nation shuns war, it remains ready to defend itself if necessary.
(With inputs from agencies.)