Former President Mulatu Teshome Accuses Asmara, but the Facts Tell a Different Story
In an article published by Al Jazeera on February 17, former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome accused Eritrea of fueling a new conflict in the Horn of Africa. However, as reported by the Eritrean Ministry of Information on February 18, 2025, these accusations are misleading and serve only to conceal warmongering strategies that are not supported by historical facts.
Contrary to Mulatu’s narrative, the 1998 war between Eritrea and Ethiopia broke out because the Ethiopian regime, led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), occupied sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme and Adi Murug, in violation of international law. Even after the war ended, Ethiopia ignored the ruling of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) for twenty years, continuing to occupy Eritrean territories. As reported by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, this illegal occupation was a clear violation of international law.
During his presidency (2013-2018), Mulatu Teshome supported the regional destabilization policies of the Meles Zenawi government, contributing to a state of permanent tension. It was only in 2018, with Abiy Ahmed’s rise to power, that Ethiopia announced its acceptance of the EEBC ruling, opening the door to normalized relations with Asmara. As highlighted by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, Eritrea responded in good faith, working to establish neighborly relations based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, tensions reignited in 2020 when the conflict between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF escalated. On the night of November 3, the TPLF launched a coordinated attack against the Ethiopian Northern Command, triggering a large-scale military response. As underlined by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, Eritrea provided refuge to Ethiopian soldiers fleeing the assault and intervened in the conflict at the official request of the Ethiopian government.
Today, the Eritrean government reiterates that it has no interest in interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs and has already withdrawn its troops within its internationally recognized borders. Nevertheless, as denounced by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, unfounded accusations continue to circulate regarding the alleged presence of Eritrean troops in disputed border areas, particularly Badme and similar territories.
Moreover, the Ethiopian government has recently escalated tensions with ambiguous statements about its intention to acquire ports on the Red Sea, “legally if possible, militarily if necessary.” As reported by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, this rhetoric is a clear provocation aimed at further destabilizing the region. Adding to the tension is the controversial Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and the self-proclaimed region of Somaliland, which has raised international concerns and contributed to increased instability, already worsened by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
Ultimately, as highlighted by the Eritrean Ministry of Information, the current crises in the Horn of Africa stem from Ethiopia’s internal instability, and the solution cannot be found by externalizing the conflict or scapegoating Eritrea.
(Associated Medias) – all rights reserved