Ethiopia Reportedly Moving Heavy Weaponry To The Eritrean Border In The East
The Ethiopian government is reportedly moving heavy weaponry to the Eritrean border in the Eastern parts of the country amid growing tension between the two countries over the past few months.
According to an Ethiopian Media Services report, the heavy weaponry and troops are heading to the Assab area which is currently within the Eritrean border. It is not indicated as to where the weaponry divisions were mobilized from. The port city of Assab is accessible at least from two directions from inside Ethiopia.
Lorries and trucks carrying tanks, artillery and other heavy weaponry have been heading to the Assab direction over the past few days, according to the source.
The development is seemingly heightening speculation that war could break out between the two countries any moment.
Notably, in a two part interview with Eritrea’s state owned TV, Eri Tv, President Isaias Afwework accused Ethiopia of preparing for war against his country. He alleged that four countries namely United Arab Emirates, Israel, France and the United States are “arming” Ethiopia. He stated that Ethiopia has been stockpiling technological arms, getting deliveries on a daily basis.
At the time of this writing, the Ethiopian government has not remarked on the movement of heavy weaponry towards the Eritrean border.
It did not remark on the allegation from president Isaias Afeworki either. The Eritrean president stated that his country does not need war but the people of Eritrea should not worry about what he called preparation for war.
He has some advice to Abiy Ahmed’s administration too : its “focus should be on resolving the internal problems in the country.” For Eritreans and a considerable number of Ethiopians, Ethiopia’s ruling party plan to go to war against Eritrea, although it has been denying it, is to “deflect attention” from internal chaotic situations.
The Ethiopian government has been waging war in the Amhara region of the country for over two years and in the Oromia region for over at least five years now. The government alleges Eritrea has been arming rebel groups in the country – something that Eritrea denies. Recently, there has been an open accusation on the part of Ethiopia that the Eritrean government is stirring conflict in the north using a faction of the TPLF under Debretsion Gebremichael.
However, beyond the allegations of proxy war in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government has been pursuing “access to the sea agenda” by any means. Since Eritrea has dismissed the possibility of negotiation on sea access, Abiy Ahmed’s government resort to military means is something that has been anticipated.
