Tigray Coup and Red Sea Tensions Threaten New Ethiopia-Eritrea War

Tensions are rising in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as internal power struggles and regional disputes threaten to reignite conflict. A coup within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) saw party chair Debretsion Gebremichael seize control, forcing interim president Getachew Reda to escape to Addis Ababa. The unrest has sparked violence, long bank queues, and fears of war among residents, many of whom have begun to flee. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, is eyeing Eritrea’s Assab port to regain Red Sea access—raising tensions between the two nations. Eritrea has ordered a nationwide mobilization of troops and allegedly aided Debretsion during his coup. Despite troop movements, Abiy insists on peaceful negotiations, stating his preference for an agreement based on commercial law. Nevertheless, the situation remains volatile, and one wrong move could spiral into an interstate war between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Source: The Guardian