Eritrea has asked the United Nations Security Council to take action against Ethiopia, rejecting accusations that its troops invaded Ethiopian territory.
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh made the request in a letter reported by Reuters on Saturday, 10 October. He accused Ethiopia of using the invasion claims to justify an attack on Eritrea.
Saleh sought measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows sanctions and military action, but did not specify his preferred response. Reuters could not independently verify the alleged incursion. reuters.com
Ethiopia claims self-defence
Ethiopia has also written to the Security Council. Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of deploying troops inside Ethiopia and supporting armed opposition groups.
According to the Associated Press, he invoked Ethiopia’s right to self-defence. AP could not independently verify the allegations.
AP footage showed Ethiopian troops and military vehicles entering Adigrat on Saturday. However, it did not establish who previously controlled the city or whether Eritrean forces had fought there. Residents described food shortages, closed banks, and difficulty getting medical treatment. apnews.com
UN urges an immediate ceasefire
In a statement published by the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern about renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions.
The statement, dated 9 October, called for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to talks under the Pretoria Agreement.
Guterres also expressed concern about reports of Eritrean forces in Ethiopia. He urged neighboring states to respect each other’s territory, avoid interference, and help reduce tensions. His appeal is separate from any Security Council decision on Eritrea’s request. ethiopia.un.org
Sea access remains a source of tension.
Ethiopia became landlocked when Eritrea gained independence in 1993. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government says access to the sea is essential, while maintaining that it wants a peaceful solution.
Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of seeking to take its Red Sea port of Assab. That remains an Eritrean allegation.
The neighbors reached a peace agreement in 2018 and later fought on the same side during the 2020–2022 Tigray war. Their relationship has since deteriorated, adding another risk to an already fragile region. reuters.com
