Ethiopia Issues Ultimatum to Eritrea, Demands Troop Withdrawal While Pushing for Red Sea Access Deal

ADDIS ABABA, In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Horn of Africa, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has formally accused Eritrea of “outright aggression” and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops from its territory. However, in a significant diplomatic twist, the ultimatum was accompanied by a direct offer to negotiate a “comprehensive settlement” that would grant Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through the Eritrean port of Assab.

The letter, signed by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos Hessebon and dated 7 February 2026, marks the most precarious moment in relations between the two neighbors since the fallout of the Tigray War.

Accusations of Occupation and Rebel Support

The correspondence, addressed to Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed, alleges that developments in the last few days have signaled a shift from provocation to open hostility.

“For quite a considerable period, Eritrean forces have occupied Ethiopian territory along our common border,” the letter states. It goes on to accuse Asmara of providing “direct material assistance and support for various militant groups in Ethiopia.”

The Foreign Ministry cited specific recent “incursions” into Ethiopia’s north-eastern borders and “joint military maneuvers” with rebel groups in the north-west as the breaking point. “These are not just provocations but acts of outright aggression,” Minister Gedion wrote, formally requesting that Eritrea “immediately withdraws its troops” and cease collaboration with insurgents.

The “Last War” and The Eritrean Presence in Tigray

The current crisis is a direct aftershock of the devastating 2020–2022 Tigray War. During that conflict, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki deployed troops to support Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal forces against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

However, following the November 2022 Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), which officially ended the war, Eritrean forces remained deeply entrenched in parts of Tigray. For years, reports have indicated that Eritrean troops continued to occupy border areas—specifically in Irob and parts of Western Tigray—despite repeated calls from the international community and the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray for them to leave.

What was once a tactical alliance between Addis Ababa and Asmara to defeat the TPLF has now fractured completely. The “militant groups” mentioned in today’s letter likely refer to Amhara “Fano” militias or other regional insurgents that Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of bolstering to destabilize Prime Minister Abiy’s government.

The Red Sea “Persuasion”: A Trade for Assab?

Perhaps the most striking element of the letter is the proposed solution. While demanding a military withdrawal, Ethiopia pivoted to its long-standing ambition: access to the sea.

Framing the conflict as a cycle of violence that has lasted “more than half a century,” Minister Gedion offered a path to normalize relations if Eritrea respects Ethiopia’s sovereignty.

“The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is willing to engage in good faith negotiations for a comprehensive settlement… including maritime affairs and the issue of access to the sea through the port of Assab,” the letter reads.

This confirms the aggressive diplomatic push Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has hinted at since late 2023, when he declared that Ethiopia’s lack of sea access was an existential issue. By explicitly naming the Port of Assab—historically Ethiopia’s gateway to the world before Eritrea’s 1993 independence—Addis Ababa appears to be leveraging the current military tension to force a dialogue on sovereign access to the Red Sea.

Regional Implications

The situation places the entire East African region on edge. The Horn of Africa is already grappling with instability in Sudan and tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia. A renewed direct conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea would be catastrophic, potentially drawing in various proxy actors.

The letter closes with a stark choice for the Eritrean government: accept the “good will gesture” and negotiate a deal that includes the port, or face the consequences of continued “conflict and chaos.”

As of this hour, there has been no official response from Asmara.