Ethiopian police say they have seized thousands of rounds of ammunition sent by Eritrea to a violent armed rebel group, stoking fears of renewed armed conflict.
Eritrea has denied the allegation and accused Ethiopia of floating false flags to justify the war that it has been itching to unleash for two long years.
It comes at a volatile moment for the relationship between the Horn of Africa neighbors, which share a fractious and violent history.
Hopes of tentative peace, forged during a 2020-22 civil war in northern Ethiopia, have of late given way to a war of words over control of the Red Sea. This latest claim appears to be a sign of further escalation.
On Wednesday, Ethiopian police stated they had seized more than 56,000 rounds of ammunition in the Amhara region intended to arm the Fano rebels, arresting two suspects in the process.
The authorities claim the ammunition was sent by the Shabiya government, a term referring to Eritrea's ruling party.
Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, refuted the claim, asserting that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party (PP) is seeking a pretext to declare war.
Relations between the two countries have frequently been strained, compounded by a history of conflict, including a destructive war in the late 1990s and the ongoing insurgency from the Fano rebels in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s recent calls for access to the Red Sea through Eritrea have further strained bilateral relations, particularly after Prime Minister Abiy framed the access issue as an existential matter for Ethiopia.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki responded with accusations that Abiy's party is waging a war against Eritrea, while Abiy maintains Ethiopia does not seek conflict, advocating for dialogue on maritime access.
