Ethiopia: Floating False Flags to Rationalize and Ignite Conflict
In the past few days, the Ethiopian regime has ramped up its diplomatic campaigns – including by sending letters to the UNSG and several Heads of State and Government – to accuse Eritrea of “repeated provocations as well as infringements on Ethiopian sovereign and territorial integrity”.
This transparent ploy, aimed at hoodwinking the international community and thereby garnering support for its long-brewing war agenda, is akin to the local adage: “the sling utters a shrill cry while hitting its prey”.
The fact of the matter is Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party has been recklessly indulging, for the last two years, in uncalled-for pronouncements as well as provocative saber-rattling, to acquire, in its own words, Eritrean ports “legally if possible and militarily if necessary”. The regime has gone beyond verbal posturing to indulge in weapons purchasing spree as well as myriad acts of subversion.
Although these provocative acts constitute grave threats to Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well regional stability, Eritrea has preferred to show maximum restraint. In the public statement that the GOE issued on 16 October, 2023 when the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced his war agenda, Eritrea expressed its dismay on the appalling turn of events, underlined that “it will not, as ever, be drawn into such alleys and platforms, and urged all concerned not to be provoked”.
The Ethiopian regime is today twisting these indelible facts and sequence of events to also accuse Eritrea for “infringement on its sovereign and territorial integrity”. This is a preposterous lie.
As it will be recalled, successive Ethiopian regimes had continued to occupy several Eritrean sovereign lands for almost two decades in flagrant breach of international law, the UN Charter, and the EEBC Award. Ethiopia’s illegal occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories was belatedly rectified, and this was the cardinal reason behind, the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between Eritrea and Ethiopia signed in Asmara on 9 July 2018. Eritrea remains strictly bound by the EEBC Award that Ethiopia had accepted after two decades of unwarranted delay.
In conclusion, the unnecessary tension emanates from, and is predicated on, the unlawful ambitions of the Ethiopian regime to acquire the sovereign lands and maritime territory of its neighbor.
Ministry of Information
Asmara
26 June 2025