Ethiopia demands Eritrea ‘immediately withdraw’ troops from its territory

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesFebruary 8, 2026 at 07:42 PM

AI Summary

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Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of military aggression and supporting armed groups within Ethiopia in a letter dated February 7, 2026. The accusation follows growing tensions between the two nations after Eritrea was not party to the 2022 agreement that ended the Tigray conflict. Ethiopia alleges that Eritrean forces have occupied Ethiopian territory along their shared border for an extended period and are providing material support to rebel groups. Timothewos demanded Eritrea withdraw its troops and cease collaboration with rebel groups, while also stating Ethiopia remains open to dialogue if Eritrea respects its territorial integrity. He expressed willingness to negotiate on matters of mutual interest, including maritime affairs and access to the Red Sea through the Eritrean port of Assab.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Red Sea 40% Assab 40% Osman Saleh Mohammed 60% Tigray ×260% Gedion Timothewos ×270% Eritrea ×990% Ethiopia ×1090%

Keywords

eritrea 100% ethiopia 100% military aggression 80% territorial integrity 70% rebel groups 70% border dispute 60% foreign relations 50% tigray conflict 50% armed groups 40%