Eritrean Troops Reportedly Deploy in Tigray as Ethiopia-Eritrea Tensions Escalate

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Eritrean troops have reportedly deployed around the town of Adigrat in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, according to local officials and residents, raising fresh concerns that renewed fighting in the region could develop into a broader conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The reported deployment comes two weeks after fighting erupted between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian federal forces on September 23.

The renewed violence has revived fears of a return to the devastating 2020–2022 Tigray war, which killed large numbers of people and triggered a major humanitarian crisis.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting the Tigrayan rebels, while tensions between the two neighbouring countries have sharply deteriorated in recent weeks.

Eritrean troops reported in Adigrat

Multiple sources told AFP that Eritrean troops had entered Adigrat, approximately 115 kilometres (70 miles) north of Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle, and were moving south.

The Ethiopian army has made significant advances against Tigrayan forces with support from local militias. Federal troops entered Mekelle over the weekend without significant resistance after the TPLF withdrew from the regional capital.

Gebreigziabher Beyene, commander of the Tigray Peace Force, a pro-government militia fighting alongside federal forces, alleged that Eritrean troops had entered Tigray equipped with heavy weapons.

“The Eritrean army has entered Tigray in uniform, equipped with heavy weaponry,” Beyene said.

He also claimed Eritrean forces were being targeted by drone strikes and suggested the deployment was intended to keep the fighting inside Tigray rather than allowing it to spill across the border into Eritrea.

The claims could not be independently verified.

Residents in Adigrat told AFP they had seen Eritrean soldiers moving through the town.

One eyewitness said Eritrean troops were travelling in large trucks and patrol vehicles while carrying heavy weaponry and heading south.

A local official, speaking anonymously, said the troops had been present for several days and that their presence had caused concern among residents.

Drone strikes reported near Adwa

Further insecurity has also been reported west of Mekelle.

An Adwa resident told AFP that drone strikes targeted hotels in the town over the weekend, reportedly killing several civilians and injuring four others.

The reports come as federal forces continue their campaign against TPLF fighters and the security situation remains fluid across parts of Tigray.

Ethiopia-Eritrea relations deteriorate

The latest developments are particularly significant because of the complicated history between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993 following a prolonged armed struggle. The two countries subsequently fought a devastating border war from 1998 to 2000.

Relations improved after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in Ethiopia in 2018, with the two governments entering a period of closer cooperation.

Eritrea later supported Ethiopia during the 2020–2022 war against the TPLF.

However, relations have deteriorated significantly since the end of that conflict, with disputes over security, territory and Ethiopia's ambitions for access to the Red Sea contributing to growing tensions.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara. Eritrea subsequently announced that it would sever diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

The diplomatic rupture has intensified concerns that the renewed conflict in Tigray could draw the two countries into direct confrontation.

Fears of a wider regional conflict

One of the major concerns is the possibility of TPLF forces retreating towards or across the Eritrean border if they come under sustained pressure from Ethiopian forces.

Such a development could create a new flashpoint between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Regional expert Kjetil Tronvoll of Oslo New University College told AFP that Eritrea would seek to maintain a buffer zone in northern Tigray and prevent Ethiopian forces from reaching its territory.

“For Eritrea it is essential to maintain strategic depth and a buffer zone in northern Tigray, and to meet and fight (the Ethiopian army) on Tigrayan soil,” Tronvoll said.

The reported Eritrean deployment therefore adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile situation.

With diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea severed and fighting continuing in parts of Tigray, regional observers are closely watching whether the conflict remains contained within Ethiopia or develops into a broader confrontation between the two former allies.

For civilians in Tigray, the renewed violence has once again raised fears of displacement, insecurity and a return to the devastating consequences of the previous war.