Ethiopia warns of "very grave" consequences if Eritrea "serves as base for our enemies"
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned on 19 October 2026 that the consequences would be "very grave" if Eritrea "serves as a base for our enemies", in an interview in Tigrinya on a public television channel. In the same interview he said that good-neighbourly relations and a partnership were the only way forward, and described Eritrea's economic situation as one of exile and poverty. The two states broke off diplomatic relations in October, with Addis Ababa accusing Asmara of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Eritrea accusing Ethiopia of seeking to take the port of Assab; Russia has offered to mediate at a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow on 28 and 29 October.
Why it matters: The exchange places Horn of Africa security at the centre of the briefing, as two neighbouring states with severed diplomatic ties trade accusations of support for armed opponents and territorial designs while a mediation offer remains pending.