Eritrea calls Ethiopia’s accusations of military aggression ‘deplorable’

Eritrea rejects Ethiopia's military aggression accusations as false, labeling them a part of a hostile campaign against it.

Eritrea on Monday (February 9, 2026) rejected accusations by Ethiopia that it was responsible for ‍military aggression and was backing armed groups inside Ethiopian territory ​as “false and fabricated”, calling the claims ‌part of a hostile campaign by Addis ​Ababa.

Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister had accused neighbouring Eritrea over the weekend of military aggression and of supporting armed groups inside Ethiopian territory, where recent clashes between Tigrayan forces and Ethiopian troops have raised fears of a return to war.

“The patently ​false and fabricated accusations against Eritrea issued ⁠by Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister yesterday is astounding in its tone and substance, underlying motivation, and overarching objective,” the Ministry of ​Information said in ⁠a statement.

“Sadly, it constitutes yet another deplorable act in a pattern and spiral of hostile campaigns against Eritrea for more than two years now,” ‌the Ministry said, adding that it did ‌not want to exacerbate the situation.

The two longstanding foes waged war against each ‍other between 1998 and 2000, signing a peace deal in 2018.

They were allies during Ethiopia’s ‍two-year war against regional authorities in the northern Tigray region, but relations between the two nations have plunged into acrimony since then.