Eritrea asks UN to deter Ethiopia as tensions rise over Tigray

Eritrea has asked the UN Security Council to condemn Ethiopia and take measures to deter it.

The request came after Ethiopia said it was exercising its right to self-defense and accused Eritrea of sending troops and supporting insurgent groups.

Eritrea rejected those accusations and warned that further action could cause major harm and destabilize the region.

The dispute is unfolding amid renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, which has broken a 2022 peace agreement.

Tigrayan rebel groups recently joined forces against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, but Ethiopian troops have since retaken large parts of the region, including Mekelle.

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought together against Tigrayan forces in a 2020–2022 border war, making their current rift a sharp change in relations.

Tensions are also heightened by Ethiopia’s stated need for Red Sea access, which Eritrea sees as a threat to its sovereignty.

Eritrea wants the Security Council to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which can allow measures ranging from sanctions to military action.