Ethiopian forces entered the northern town of Adwa on 11 October, days after capturing Adigrat, AFP reported, as Ethiopia and Eritrea each wrote to the UN Security Council accusing the other of aggression. This explainer on the Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions separates what is established, what each side says and what is unconfirmed, then turns to Somalia.
Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions: what is established
Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993, and the two fought a border war from 1998 to 2000. Relations improved from 2018, and Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopia’s army in the 2020-2022 Tigray war. The Pretoria Agreement of 2 November 2022, signed by the federal government and the TPLF, ended that war.
| Date | Event | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Sept | Fighting resumes between federal forces and a seven-group armed alliance that includes the TPLF | Al Jazeera |
| 24 Sept | IGAD urges “immediate de-escalation” and says Pretoria “remains the sole legitimate framework” | The Reporter Ethiopia |
| Around 1 Oct | Ethiopia closes its embassy in Asmara and expels 10 Eritrean diplomats; Eritrea cuts ties | Africanews, Al Jazeera |
| 1 Oct | AU Commission urges “maximum restraint” and “peaceful dialogue” | AU Commission |
| 7-8 Oct (overnight) | Drone strikes hit Eritrean forces near Adigrat; responsibility unconfirmed | Africanews (AFP), ACLED |
| 8-9 Oct | Ethiopia writes to UN Security Council; sources differ on date | Reuters |
| 10 Oct | Eritrea writes to the Security Council | Al Jazeera |
| 11 Oct | Ethiopian forces enter Adwa without a fight, days after capturing Adigrat; Mekelle flights resume, the first since 23 Sept | AFP (via Yahoo, Al Jazeera) |
Adwa is about 40 km from the Eritrean border, Al Jazeera reported. Adigrat is about 25 km away according to Al Jazeera and about 30 km according to Reuters.
What each government says
Ethiopia
Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos wrote to the Security Council. Reuters says the letter was dated Thursday (8 October); Al Jazeera and Shabait indicate 9 October. He said Eritrean forces had advanced up to 60 km into Ethiopia and called Eritrea’s actions “a blatant act of aggression” that engages Ethiopia’s right to self-defence.
Eritrea
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh’s letter, dated 10 October, asks the Council to “forcefully condemn Ethiopia’s deplorable declaration of war against Eritrea”, according to Al Jazeera. A commentary on the letter published by Shabait, an Eritrean government outlet, and written by an official of Eritrea’s UN mission, says Ethiopia’s measures amount to a “war of aggression”, calls for “requisite deterrent measures” under Chapter VII, and says Eritrea has shown “maximum restraint”.
Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel says Ethiopia is “openly working to bring about regime change in Eritrea”, AFP reported via Africanews.
What remains unverified
Eritrean troops in Tigray. Adigrat residents reported seeing Eritrean soldiers from about 7 October, but Reuters could not independently verify this, according to Al Jazeera. Tigray Peace Force commander Gebreigziabher Beyene said the Eritrean army had “entered Tigray in uniform, equipped with heavy weaponry”, a claim by a party to the conflict. Reuters reported that Yemane’s statement did not address the troop reports, though on Wednesday he called reports of an incursion part of an Ethiopian plan to justify a war of aggression. Al Jazeera reported on 7 October that Yemane did not deny troops had crossed and called Ethiopia’s framing a “fallacious narrative”. Whether Eritrea denies any troop presence at all is therefore unclear. The drone strikes. AFP, citing three witnesses, reported strikes on Eritrean forces near Adigrat overnight on 7-8 October, and ACLED also recorded them. An anonymous senior Ethiopian commander told AFP only that small pockets of enemy forces were still resisting. Reuters said the strikes were believed to have been carried out by Ethiopia’s military. Ethiopia has made no on-record claim of responsibility. Casualties and displacement. No independently confirmed casualty or displacement totals have been published.
Somalia’s position
Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali Nadaara said, in remarks Garowe Online attributed to a BBC interview, that “Somalia is neutral on this matter”. He said relations with both countries are unchanged.
That statement sits alongside the 4 October summit in New Alamein City, Egypt, attended by Egypt’s President Sisi, Eritrea’s Isaias Afwerki, Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The declaration said control of the Red Sea should remain with coastal states and backed Sudan’s military-led government and a Sudanese-led political process. Egypt and Sudan warned against “unilateral measures” that harm downstream states. Al Jazeera said it “appeared to push back against several policies pursued by Ethiopia”.
A separate question is Ethiopia’s military role in Somalia. Bloomberg reported, as relayed by Garowe Online, that Ethiopia plans to withdraw more than 3,000 troops from Somalia “in the coming days or weeks”. It is unclear whether that covers the African Union mission (AUSSOM), troops deployed under bilateral arrangements, or both. Garowe Online reported on 12 October that Nadaara said Mogadishu had “no official notification” of a withdrawal, and Ethiopia has not publicly confirmed it.
Somalia also has domestic matters in play: the president outlined a direct voting agenda to international partners, Puntland State accused him of administrative subversion, and fighting keeps returning to Baidoa.
What happens next
Whether the UN Security Council responds to either letter. Any African Union or IGAD mediation, following the AU Commission’s offer of support for de-escalation. Whether Ethiopia confirms or denies the reported troop withdrawal from Somalia.
This article reflects reports available on 13 October 2026.
Sources
- African Union Commission (primary): statement of 1 October 2026
- Shabait (Eritrean government outlet, a party to the dispute): commentary by an official of Eritrea’s UN mission on the 10 October letter
- Al Jazeera, 12 October
- Al Jazeera, 10 October
- Al Jazeera, 7 October
- Al Jazeera, 5 October
- Africanews (AFP)
- AFP via Yahoo
- Reuters via CNBC Africa
- Garowe Online: Somalia neutrality statement
- Garowe Online: Ethiopia’s role in Somalia
- The Reporter Ethiopia: IGAD statement of 24 September
