Asmara (Somalia Today) — Eritrea criticized Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party for what it called an “obsession” with linking the Blue Nile and the Red Sea, dismissing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s “Two Waters” concept as “bizarre” and “mind-boggling.”
In a statement on X, Information Minister Yemane G. Meskel said Ethiopia’s narrative lacks any geographical, legal, or geopolitical basis. He accused Abiy’s government of “manufacturing illusions” to justify regional ambitions.
“There is no overlap, intersection, or confluence between the Blue Nile and the Red Sea,” Meskel wrote. “The Potemkin Party’s gimmick is too crass and pathetic to sell, even by historical standards of deceit.”
He said the Prosperity Party’s rhetoric reflects a dangerous distortion that could destabilize a fragile region.
“Historically, such deceit has been a prelude to aggression,” Meskel added. “It is a cynical attempt to usurp other nations’ wealth under the guise of national interest.”
Meskel warned that Ethiopia’s fixation on maritime access risks “igniting another unnecessary conflict” in a region scarred by war and political upheaval.
‘Reckless rhetoric’
Eritrea said Abiy’s parliamentary remarks invoking the “Two Waters” idea were a deliberate provocation that masked “irredentist ambitions” in the language of integration and prosperity.
“Forces of aggression have always conjured deceitful palliatives to rationalize coveting their neighbours’ rights and wealth,” Meskel said.
Asmara maintained it has “no appetite for war” but would defend its sovereignty if threatened. President Isaias Afwerki, in a recent interview, echoed the point: “We have no territorial claims or ambitions against any neighbour.” He urged Ethiopia “not to plunge its people into a futile war.”
“We have no appetite for war,” Afwerki said. “But as history attests, we know how to defend our country when and if attacked.”
Eritrea’s statement reiterated that it will not be “drawn into artificial crises or manufactured provocations.”
“Our position remains clear,” Meskel wrote. “We will not be provoked by reckless rhetoric or sabre-rattling.”
The comments came as tensions deepened over Ethiopia’s renewed push for sea access, a dispute that has lingered since Eritrea’s 1993 independence left Ethiopia landlocked.
Ethiopia’s push for the sea
On October 2, Ethiopia sent a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres accusing Eritrea and hardline elements within the TPLF of forming a new alliance, “Tsimdo,” to “wage war” against the Ethiopian state, a charge both sides have denied.
The letter, signed by Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, said the alliance was “funding and directing armed groups such as Fano” and undermining the 2022 Pretoria peace accord that ended Ethiopia’s civil war.
Addis Ababa also reiterated its intent to secure “sovereign access to the sea through legal means if possible, and military force if necessary,” remarks that alarmed regional capitals.
Asmara dismissed the claims as “a deceitful charade” and “an insult to the intelligence of the Ethiopian people and the international community.”
“Day in and day out, the PP’s policy mantra revolves around sea access through coercion,” Meskel wrote. “This is a dangerous provocation dressed in diplomatic language.”
He cited a Tigrinya proverb, “A sling emits a shrill cry as it hits its target,” suggesting Ethiopia’s accusations reflect its own unease.
Analysts say the exchange underscores the rapid deterioration in relations between former allies whose 2018 peace deal ended two decades of hostility.
“Asmara’s response reflects deep mistrust and fear of Ethiopia’s resurgence,” said Hodan Abshir, a Horn of Africa analyst in Mogadishu. “If rhetoric hardens, fragile regional stability could unravel quickly.”
Regional bodies, including the African Union and IGAD, have not commented publicly. Diplomats in the region are urging de-escalation, warning any new conflict would endanger the Red Sea corridor, a vital global shipping route.
Both leaders face domestic pressures. Abiy is struggling with unrest in Amhara and Oromia. Afwerki faces economic strain and youth migration.
Eritrea insists it will not be “drawn into war talk.” The tone of Meskel’s message highlights how fragile the region remains despite recent peace efforts.
“Do not plunge the people of Ethiopia into a futile war. Focus on solving your real problems,” Afwerki said last year. The warning now carries greater weight amid rising tension between Addis Ababa and Asmara.
