The United States believes Eritrea is involved in the Ethiopian government’s conflict with its Tigray region.
Despite denials from both nations, five regional diplomats and a source within the U.S. government told Reuters that Eritrean soldiers have been spotted fighting in Tigray. The outlet reported the news on Tuesday.
In mid-November, Debretsion Gebremichael, the leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, accused Ethiopia of using Eritrean troops to attack Tigray. Subsequently, the group launched rockets at the neighboring nation. At the time, no evidence was presented by the TPLF to confirm Eritrea’s involvement.
Claims from either side of the conflict have been difficult for journalists to verify independently as phone and internet communications in the region have been largely shut off by the Ethiopian government for much of the fighting.
Sources said that satellite images, intercepted communications, and anecdotal reports from the Tigray region provided evidence of Eritrea’s involvement.
“There doesn’t appear to be a doubt anymore. It’s being discussed by U.S. officials on calls, that the Eritreans are in Tigray, but they aren’t saying it publicly,” one source said.
On Saturday, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed called reports of the intervention “propaganda,” claiming they were untrue.
Eritrea and Ethiopia were enemies for years but signed a peace pact in 2018 after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. Abiy won a Nobel Peace Prize for the deal.
Fighting between Ethiopia and Tigray began in early November after Abiy accused the TPLF of attacking federal troops. Ethiopia has claimed victory in the fight, insisting that the fighting has concluded. However, reports of some protracted conflict have continued.
For many years, the TPLF was the dominant party of the nation’s ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. Abiy was appointed by the front and, soon thereafter, disbanded the coalition.
