Saudi Foreign Minister this week contacted Ethiopian and Eritrean Foreign Ministers. The contacts are linked to ongoing conflict between the Horn of Africa neighbors.
On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan called his Eritrean counterpart Osman Salih. According to the statement issued by Saudi Foreign Ministry, the two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and global issues.
On Friday, he had phone call with Gideon Timotheron, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister. Similar statement was issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
According to informed sources, Saudi Arabia is mediating between Ethiopian and Eritrea. Tensions have been running high between the two countries since September 2023 when the Ethiopian Prime Minister demanded sea access for landlocked Ethiopia through neighboring countries.
In recent speeches and statements, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki accused each other of preparing for war. Saudi Arabia mediated the historic 2018 peace deal between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Reportedly, Ethiopian and Eritrean delegations held two rounds of discussions in Saudi Arabia this month. Nothing has been officially said by any side about the ongoing Saudi mediation between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
