Eritrea asks UN to act over Ethiopia 'war' claim

Eritrea asked the UN Security Council on Saturday to take “deterrent measures” after what it called Ethiopia's “declaration of war” against it in the conflict over Ethiopia's Tigray region.

Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh made the request in a letter, asking the council to condemn Ethiopia and act against what he described as a threat that could bring “huge devastation” to both countries and destabilise the region.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos on Friday accused Eritrea of “a blatant act of aggression” and said that gave Ethiopia a right to self-defence.

The neighbours have accused each other of starting a war over Tigray. Ethiopia says Eritrea is backing rebels in the northern region. Rebels attacked federal forces there last month, and Eritrean forces have since entered Ethiopian territory.

The Ethiopian army has pushed back the Tigray People's Liberation Front and seized Mekelle, the Tigray capital. It has also launched drone strikes against Eritrean troops in the region.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, and the two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000. Relations improved after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, but have worsened again in recent years.

Landlocked Ethiopia has repeatedly said it has a right to direct sea access, which Eritrea sees as a threat to invade and seize its port at Assab. Tigray fighters battled Ethiopian government forces, then backed by Eritrea, in a 2020-2022 war.