Eritrea and Ethiopia trade accusations at UN over Tigray

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 19:48 · Archive

Eritrea and Ethiopia have filed competing letters with the UN Security Council accusing each other of starting a war over control of Ethiopia's Tigray region.

Eritrea and Ethiopia have filed competing letters with the United Nations Security Council, each accusing the other of starting a war over Ethiopia's Tigray region. Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh called for the UN to invoke Chapter VII of its charter, which allows measures from sanctions to military action. He said Ethiopia had made 'a deplorable declaration of war' against Eritrea and warned that Ethiopian actions could cause 'huge devastation to the peoples of both countries and destabilise the region'. Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos countered that Eritrea had committed 'a blatant act of aggression' and said Ethiopia was exercising its right to self-defence. He accused Eritrea of deploying infantry and mechanised units and supporting, financing, arming and directing insurgent groups.

Last month, Tigrayan rebel groups announced they had joined forces to oust Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, launching attacks on government forces and seizing regional airports. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Ethiopian troops have since driven back the rebels and taken control of large parts of Tigray, including the capital Mekelle. Ethiopia said it had also launched drone strikes against Eritrean troops in the region. The recent fighting breaks a 2022 peace agreement between the countries, who were previously allied in a 2020-2022 border conflict against TPLF rebels.

How it is being reported

• Eritrea urges UN deterrence measures against EthiopiaEritrea has officially requested UN Security Council assistance over the conflict in Tigray. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia accuse each other of fueling regional instability.DW News · 10 Oct, 19:32
• Eritrea urges UN to intervene in standoff with EthiopiaThe neighbouring countries blame one another for starting war amid heightened tensions and fears of a wider conflict.Al Jazeera · 10 Oct, 17:41

In this story: Eritrea · Ethiopia · Tigray · Osman Saleh · Gedion Timothewos · Abiy Ahmed · Tigray People's Liberation Front

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem