Eritrean soldiers were reportedly seen driving through the northern Ethiopian town of Adigrat on Wednesday, two witnesses told Reuters, days after Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties, heightening fears that tensions between the two neighbours could escalate into open conflict.
The reported sighting, if independently confirmed, would be the first indication of Eritrean troops being present on Ethiopian territory since fighting erupted last month between Ethiopia’s federal government and a rebel alliance in the country’s north.
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel denied that Eritrean forces were present in Ethiopia, describing the witness accounts as part of what he called an Ethiopian effort to justify a war of aggression against its smaller neighbour.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting the rebel alliance fighting federal government forces since September 23 in the northern regions of Tigray, Amhara and Afar.
Asmara has repeatedly denied the allegations, which have contributed to the deterioration of relations between the two countries and the severing of diplomatic ties last week.
Yemane said Ethiopia had attempted to present its war agenda as an act of self-defence by making what he described as fabricated allegations against Eritrea.
Witnesses report seeing Eritrean soldiers in Adigrat
Adigrat, a town in Tigray located about 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the Eritrean border, has not experienced fighting during the current conflict.
Two residents of the town told Reuters they saw two trucks carrying dozens of Eritrean soldiers driving through Adigrat on Wednesday morning.
Yemane said the allegations were intended to provide Ethiopia with a pretext to attack Eritrea.
The reported presence of Eritrean troops comes amid sharply deteriorating relations between the two countries.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups operating inside Ethiopia, including the Tigray forces, as well as other groups opposed to the federal government. Eritrea has denied the accusations.
