Ethiopian-Eritrean fighting raises fears of wider war as Egypt builds Red Sea alliance - analysis

Fears of a wider war in the Horn of Africa grew after Ethiopian drones reportedly struck Eritrean troops near Adigrat. Ethiopia accused Eritrea of invading its territory, while Eritrea rejected the accusations. The confrontation threatens to destabilize a region already divided by disputes over Nile waters, Red Sea access, and strategic shipping routes.

Fears of a wider war in the Horn of Africa grew this week after Ethiopian drones reportedly struck Eritrean troops in northern Ethiopia, and Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of invading its territory. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) reported that drones believed to have been launched by Ethiopian government forces struck Eritrean troops, vehicles, and ammunition near the northern Ethiopian town of Adigrat on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. In an October 8 letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of invading Ethiopian territory and demanded that its troops withdraw. Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the accusations. By Friday, ACLED reported that Eritrean troops had withdrawn from Adigrat. The fighting comes days after Egypt brought Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia together in a new diplomatic alignment. The four leaders met in New Alamein and rejected recognition of Somaliland. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said primary responsibility for Red Sea security rests with its littoral states. The confrontation threatens to destabilize a region already divided by disputes over Nile waters, access to the Red Sea, and control of strategic shipping routes.