Tensions Rise Between Ethiopia and Eritrea: A Closer Look

Ethiopia and Eritrea, two countries with a history of conflict, are once again at odds. This time, Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of sending weapons to rebels in the Amhara region. Ethiopian police claim to have seized thousands of rounds of ammunition and arrested two suspects. They believe the weapons came from Eritrea's ruling party, known as the Shabiya government. This isn't the first time these neighboring countries have had disagreements. They fought a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000, just a few years after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia. In 2018, they signed a peace agreement that seemed to mend fences. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed even won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. But now, relations are strained again.Eritrea has denied interfering in Ethiopia's affairs. In fact, Eritrea's president, Isaias Afwerki, has accused Ethiopia of being aggressive. He mentioned that Ethiopia's ruling party has declared war against Eritrea. This is serious stuff, and experts worry it could lead to more conflict. Things got even tenser when Eritrean troops supported Ethiopia during a civil war in the Tigray region from 2020 to 2022. But after that, relations turned sour. Eritrea was left out of the peace deal that ended the conflict. To make matters worse, Ethiopia's prime minister has been talking about Ethiopia's right to sea access. Many in Eritrea, which has a coastline on the Red Sea, see this as a threat. Both sides say they don't want war. But the situation is delicate. It's a reminder that old conflicts can flare up again, and diplomacy is key to keeping the peace.