Concerns Mount Over Impending Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict: Lt. Gen. Tsadkan’s Warning

Lt. Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae warns that war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is “seems inevitable,” with Tigray at risk of being a battleground. He highlights deteriorating relations between the two nations since the Pretoria agreement and calls for urgent intervention to avert conflict. Furthermore, he expresses concerns over divisions within Tigray complicating peace efforts and underscores the devastating regional consequences of renewed hostilities.

In a recent commentary, Lt. Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae, Vice President of the Tigray Interim Administration, voiced grave concerns regarding the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, stating that war appears “inevitable” due to preparations nearing completion. He indicated that Tigray stands as a potential primary battleground amidst warnings that the conflict might extend to involve Sudan and the Red Sea region. Tsadkan emphasized Tigray’s preference for peace yet noted that options for achieving peaceful resolutions are dwindling, leading to war possibly being the only recourse.

Tsadkan observed a gradual deterioration in the alliance between Ethiopia and Eritrea following the Pretoria peace agreement, which has heightened the likelihood of war. He mentioned that final preparations for conflict are underway and suggested that as preparations advance, it becomes increasingly challenging to deter war from occurring. Furthermore, he accused Eritrea of exploiting regional circumstances and perceiving Tigray as the primary barrier to its ambitions, alluding to Eritrea’s alleged intentions to finalize prior aggressive strategies against Tigray, which originated after the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

He warned that existing divisions within Tigray could complicate the political landscape, suggesting that certain factions within the fragmented Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) may seek self-preservation by aligning with Eritrea. Tsadkan asserted that such leaders might utilize Eritrea to eliminate Abiy Ahmed, only to later turn against Eritrea, asserting that the hunger for power remains pervasive within this group, with dire consequences for the people of Tigray.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome accused Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki of attempting to exploit TPLF divisions to destabilize the peace agreement established in Pretoria. Mulatu cautioned that Isaias’s maneuvers could reignite conflict in northern Ethiopia and dismantle the ongoing peace efforts. He alleged that Eritrea is inciting fractures within the TPLF and is orchestrating militia movements in Ethiopia’s Amhara region to destabilize the area further.

In response to these accusations, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane G. Meskel dismissed them as baseless claims designed to justify a war-centric agenda. Eritrea insisted that the actual sources of instability originate from Ethiopia itself and rejected allegations surrounding its military involvement within Ethiopian territory, framing the Pretoria Agreement as solely an internal Ethiopian conflict.

Lt. Gen. Tsadkan cautioned that a renewal of war could yield catastrophic outcomes, projecting significant political realignments in both the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. He underscored the risk that global focus on other conflicts—such as those in Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East—could exacerbate the situation. To navigate this precarious moment, he suggested that Tigray must strive to prevent war and advocate for the full adherence to the Pretoria agreement. Furthermore, he called upon the Ethiopian government and international stakeholders to intervene to prevent impending hostilities. Should attempts to avert conflict falter, Tsadkan contended that a swift resolution—whether through military or diplomatic channels—would serve the best interests of Tigray and the broader region.

In summary, Lt. Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae has articulated a dire warning regarding the potential outbreak of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, citing deteriorating relations and final preparations underway. He emphasized the vulnerability of Tigray within this context and the imperative need for peace. With widespread concerns about resulting instability, he urged both Ethiopian authorities and international partners to intervene immediately to prevent escalation, while also calling Tigray to pursue adherence to the Pretoria agreement as a strategic maneuver to avert conflict.

Original Source: addisstandard.com