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Eritrea’s Foreign Minister, Osman Saleh, has formally called on the United Nations to intervene in a mounting standoff with Ethiopia. This appeal follows what the Eritrean government describes as a "declaration of war" by Ethiopia concerning the ongoing instability in the Tigray region. The move signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between the Horn of Africa neighbors, raising fears of a return to full-scale conflict in an already fragile region.
In a statement addressed to the international body, Minister Saleh emphasized the need for "deterrent measures" to prevent further aggression. He argued that the current trajectory of Ethiopian policy regarding the Tigray region risks undoing previous efforts toward regional security. By labeling Ethiopia’s stance as a declaration of war, Eritrea is signaling to the Security Council that the situation has moved beyond internal political disputes. The minister warned that if the international community fails to act, the resulting hostilities would bring significant devastation to both nations.
The regional implications of a renewed standoff are profound, as the Tigray region has already been the site of one of the world's deadliest conflicts in recent years. Eritrea's previous involvement in that conflict and its subsequent withdrawal have left a legacy of deep-seated mistrust. If the UN does not heed Saleh's call for intervention, observers fear a repeat of the humanitarian crisis that saw millions displaced and thousands killed, potentially leading to a total collapse of diplomatic relations across the Horn of Africa.