Russia offers to host Ethiopia-Eritrea contacts at Moscow summit

Russia is ready to provide a venue for talks between Ethiopia and Eritrea if both sides are interested, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov told Izvestia, according to RIA Novosti.

Alimov said representatives of the two countries could use the venue to seek compromises. He expressed hope that they would take up the opportunity.

The offer follows renewed fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region and escalating accusations between the two neighbours. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front's offensive in late September. Eritrea denies that allegation and accuses Addis Ababa of seeking access to the Red Sea by force.

The Tigrayan movement joined a seven-group alliance in September seeking to remove Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Fighting subsequently broke out between federal and Tigrayan forces, with rebels seizing airports in Tigray and launching attacks towards Afar and Amhara.

The International Crisis Group warned on October 12 of the growing risk of a full-scale interstate war. The third Russia-Africa summit is scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow.