Ethiopia tells UN Security Council it faces an Eritrean invasion

Ethiopia has told the UN Security Council that it must defend itself against an Eritrean invasion. Reuters received the letter from a senior Ethiopian government official on October 9.

Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos alleged that Eritrean forces, including mechanised units, had advanced as far as 60 kilometres into northern Ethiopia. The government described their presence as aggression and invoked its right to self-defence. The stated depth of the advance is Ethiopia’s allegation.

Reuters described the letter as the government’s first official statement on this week’s reports of Eritrean troops crossing the border. Witnesses interviewed by the agency said they had seen Eritrean soldiers in northern Ethiopia days after the neighbouring countries severed diplomatic ties.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on October 9. On Wednesday, he had characterised reports of an incursion as part of an Ethiopian attempt to justify a war of aggression against his country.

Addis Ababa has also accused Eritrea of backing a rebel alliance fighting federal troops since September 23 in Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Eritrea denies that accusation. The opposing accounts have heightened concern about a widening conflict in the Horn of Africa.