Ethiopian authorities say they have intercepted a large consignment of ammunition allegedly sent from Eritrea to armed rebels, raising fresh fears of a renewed conflict between the two Horn of Africa neighbours.
According to Ethiopian police, more than 56,000 rounds of ammunition were seized in the northern Amhara region, with two suspects arrested in connection with the operation. Police claim preliminary investigations show the weapons were intended for the Fano rebel group, which has been fighting government forces and now controls significant parts of Amhara.
In a statement shared on social media, Ethiopian police alleged the ammunition was supplied by Eritrea’s ruling party, commonly referred to as the Shabiya government. The claim has been strongly rejected by Asmara.
Eritrea’s Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, dismissed the accusation as baseless and accused Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party of manufacturing excuses to justify a war it has allegedly been preparing for years. He described the allegation as a “false flag” operation meant to escalate tensions.
The dispute comes at a particularly sensitive time in relations between the two countries, which have a long and violent history. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after decades of struggle, leaving Ethiopia landlocked. A devastating border war followed in the late 1990s, claiming more than 100,000 lives.
Although relations appeared to improve after a landmark peace agreement in 2018, the alliance began to fracture again after Eritrea was excluded from the 2022 peace deal that ended Ethiopia’s civil war in Tigray. Since then, instability has continued in northern Ethiopia, especially due to the Fano insurgency in Amhara.
Tensions have also intensified over Ethiopia’s renewed push for access to the Red Sea. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has described sea access as an existential issue for his country, a position Eritrea has firmly rejected. Eritrea, which has a long Red Sea coastline, sees such claims as a direct threat to its sovereignty.
Earlier this week, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki accused Ethiopia’s ruling party of effectively declaring war, while insisting Eritrea does not seek conflict but is fully prepared to defend itself if necessary. Ethiopian authorities, however, maintain that they are not pursuing war and prefer dialogue to resolve disputes, including access to the sea.
With accusations, denials and rising military rhetoric on both sides, analysts warn that the latest ammunition seizure claim signals a dangerous escalation that could further destabilise an already fragile region.