Ethiopia demands Eritrea 'immediately withdraw' troops from its territory

Ethiopia demands Eritrea withdraw troops amid escalating tensions and accusations of supporting insurgents, risking renewed conflict.

A bitter war of words has escalated further after Ethiopia ordered neighbouring Eritrea to "immediately withdraw its troops" from Ethiopian territory, with the pair seemingly inching towards a new conflict.

Relations between the two Horn of Africa countries have long been fraught.

In recent months, Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of supporting insurgents on Ethiopian soil — allegations Asmara denies.

"Developments over the last few days indicate that the government of Eritrea has chosen the path of further escalation," Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos told his Eritrean counterpart in a letter dated Saturday (February 8, 2026).

He demanded that Asmara "withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory and cease all forms of collaboration with rebel groups".

The "incursion" along its northwestern borders and joint military operations there were "not just provocations but acts of outright aggression", he said.