Eritrean President, on Saturday, accused UAE ruler of igniting a conflict by backing Ethiopia. He warned international community about alleged preparations of war by Ethiopia. Giving an interview on state television, he elaborated on current Ethiopia Eritrea tensions.
Tensions have been rising between Eritrea and Ethiopia since 2023 when the Ethiopian Prime Minister urged neighboring countries to give full sea access to landlocked Ethiopia. Ethiopia wants full control of a port in a neighboring country, to which no neighbor, including Eritrea, is agreeing.
The Eritrean President, in his interview, accused Mohammed bin Zaid, the UAE ruler, of backing Ethiopian case of sea access to create a conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He accused UAE of trying to have control of multiple ports in the Horn of Africa to expand its influence in the region. UAE is a key ally of the Ethiopian government.
Ethiopian ruling party, by raising the issue of sea access, wants to divert attention from internal security issues, he said. Recently Ethiopian Prime Minister said that 130 million Ethiopians cannot be without sea access. President Isaias criticized Ethiopian justification of 130 million population. He said Ethiopian government is boasting of having drones and long range missiles. If war is imposed on Eritrea, we will defend our sovereignty.
