Ethiopian authorities have reported the capture of a large cache of ammunition allegedly sent from Eritrea to armed rebels, a development that could further strain relations between the two nations.
The seizure, carried out in the Amhara region, involved more than 56,000 rounds of bullets and led to the arrest of two individuals, police said on Wednesday.
According to Ethiopian officials, early investigations suggest that the weapons were meant for the Fano rebel group. “The preliminary investigation conducted on the two suspects who were caught red-handed has confirmed that the ammunition was sent by the Shabiya government,” the police said, referring to Eritrea’s ruling party.
Eritrea has strongly denied involvement. Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel accused Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party of manufacturing a false narrative to justify potential military action.
The accusation comes at a delicate moment in Horn of Africa politics. Although Eritrean forces supported the Ethiopian government during the Tigray conflict from 2020 to 2022, relations deteriorated after Eritrea was excluded from the peace agreement that ended the northern Ethiopia civil war in 2022.
Fano rebels have since gained control of parts of the Amhara region, challenging the Ethiopian government’s authority and adding to the country’s security concerns.
Eritrea has historically denied interfering in Ethiopia’s internal conflicts, but disputes over access to the Red Sea have heightened tensions between the neighbours.
Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea became independent in 1993 following a long struggle for self-determination. A border war from 1998 to 2000 left over 100,000 people dead, and although relations improved after a 2018 peace declaration, disagreements resurfaced over access to maritime routes.
In 2023, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared that gaining access to the sea was a matter of national survival, a statement Eritrea rejected. Speaking to state-run media earlier this week, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki accused Abiy’s party of initiating a hostile stance. He added, “We know how to defend our nation,” but said Eritrea does not want conflict.
Abiy has repeatedly stated that Ethiopia seeks no war with Eritrea and insists that discussions over Red Sea access should be resolved through diplomacy. The recent seizure of ammunition and ensuing accusations, however, signal a fresh chapter of mistrust between the two countries.
