Latest news with #Afwerki
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Eritrean president warns Ethiopia against waging war - Africa
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has warned neighbour Ethiopia against launching a new war between the bitter foes, with tensions high in the Horn of Africa region. Eritrea and Ethiopia have had fraught relations since the former declared independence in 1993, with tens of thousands of people killed in a war between the two from 1998 to 2000. At the heart of the current tension, according to the Eritrean government, is Ethiopia's long-held desire for a seaport, which is landlocked. Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea with an iron fist since independence, warned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that he would not be able to overwhelm his country by weight of numbers -- Ethiopia's population is 130 million, compared to just 3.5 million people living in Eritrea. "If he thinks he can overwhelm (Eritrean forces) with a human wave attack, he is mistaken," Afwerki told state television channel Eri-TV. "Before dragging the people of Ethiopia into unwanted wars or using them for another political agenda, the country's internal problems must first be addressed and solved," he said. He called Abiy's actions a "reckless" attempt to "divert attention" from domestic problems. Abiy signed a peace deal with Afwerki shortly after coming to power in 2018, but a violent conflict erupted in Ethiopia's Tigray province from 2020 to 2022 as Eritrea's forces backed rebels there fighting Ethiopian troops. At least 600,000 people were killed in the conflict, according to an African Union estimate. Although a peace deal ended the fighting, Eritrea has maintained a military presence in Tigray, and relations between the neighbours have deteriorated. Abiy has repeatedly said Ethiopia must have access to the sea, but by peaceful means. Last month, a report by a US monitoring group accused Eritrea of rebuilding its army and destabilising its neighbours. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel criticised the report by NGO The Sentry and blamed "the new tension in the region" on Ethiopia. Eritrea had been under US arms sanctions that were lifted after the 2018 peace deal. Eritrea is a single-party state which consistently ranks among the worst in the world for rights -- in last place for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, and 175th out of 183 for human development in 2022, according to the United Nations. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egyptian FM delivers message to Eritrean President, discusses ties
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on Friday to deliver a verbal message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional issues. During the meeting, Abdelatty and Afwerki discussed the development of bilateral relations across various sectors, as well as matters of mutual interest to both nations. According to Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit to Asmara was a follow-up to President El-Sisi's visit to the Eritrean capital in October 2024. The aim is to further activate the tripartite coordination mechanism between Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia. The first ministerial meeting was held in Cairo in January, and preparations are underway for the mechanism's second meeting in the near future. Khallaf added that the meeting featured a review of the relationship between Egypt and Eritrea and explored avenues for enhancing joint cooperation. Discussions also addressed shared regional concerns, primarily the situation in Africa and strategies to promote peace and security in the Horn of Africa. Particular attention was given to supporting Somalia in its fight against terrorism and its efforts to assert sovereignty over its entire territory. Furthermore, talks addressed developments in Sudan, emphasising the importance of providing support to the Sudanese state and its national institutions while preserving Sudan's unity and territorial integrity. The discussions included the situation in Libya and the Sahel region, as well as developments in the Red Sea. Egypt reiterated its stance against the involvement of any non-Red Sea littoral states in the security and governance of the Red Sea. President Afwerki conveyed his greetings and appreciation to President El-Sisi, expressing his desire to deepen bilateral relations across all fields. He added that closer relations would meet the aspirations of both nations and reflect the historical ties between Egypt and Eritrea.
Al-Ahram Weekly
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt, Eritrea reiterate rejection of non-littoral nation's involvement in Red Sea security, governance - Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki reiterated their rejection of any involvement by non-littoral Red Sea nations in the area's security and governance. According to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry on Saturday, Abdelatty and Afwerki made these remarks following a discussion between the two sides on the latest developments in the region. The statement read that Abdelatty visited Eritrea on Friday to discuss ways to activate the tripartite coordination mechanism between Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia. Formed after a summit that brought together the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on 10 October 2024, the tripartite ministerial committee held its first meeting in Cairo in January. Following that meeting, Abdelatty emphasised in a joint press conference with Eritrean and Somali counterparts that no military or naval presence of any non-littoral state in the Red Sea would be accepted. Egypt and Eritrea have repeatedly rejected all foreign interference in Somalian affairs and declared their support for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In recent months, tensions have increased in the Horn of Africa after Somaliland, a breakaway entity from Somalia not recognised by any country, agreed to lease 20 kilometres of its coast for 50 years to landlocked Ethiopia to build a naval base in return for diplomatic recognition. In January, Turkey mediated a peace deal between Somalia and Ethiopia that included restoring full diplomatic relations between the two countries. Following the rapprochement, Ethiopia's deal with Somaliland remains uncertain. During Friday's meeting, Abdelatty and Afwerki discussed preparations for the tripartite ministerial committee's second meeting, which will be held in the Eritrean capital. They also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest and ways to support peace and security in the Horn of Africa. In addition, the two sides discussed supporting Somalia in combating terrorism, the latest developments in Sudan, and the situation in Libya and the Sahel region of Africa. They also discussed Red Sea security and governance. Moreover, Abdelatty discussed strengthening relations between Egypt and Eritrea, delivering a verbal message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the Eritrean president. Afwerki, for his part, said his country looks forward to promoting ties with Egypt in ways that meet both countries' aspirations and reflect their historical ties. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
