By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
ASMARA, 11 October 2026 Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of planning military action against the country after Addis Ababa sent a message concerning military measures to the United Nations Security Council, according to Eritrea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement issued on 10 October, Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry said Ethiopia had submitted the message to the Security Council on 9 October. Asmara interpreted the communication as indicating preparations for a war that it said Ethiopia had threatened to launch over the past three years.
Eritrea also accused Ethiopia of seeking to justify potential military action as self-defence, arguing that such claims were unfounded.
The dispute is also linked to access to the Red Sea. Eritrea said Ethiopia had long sought to secure access to the sea by force, describing such efforts as a threat to its independence and territorial integrity.
The Eritrean statement said the threats and military plans it attributed to Ethiopia violated the principles of the United Nations Charter and threatened Eritrea’s independence.
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Asmara also referred to appeals it said were issued by the UN secretary-general and member states in December 2025 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Algiers Agreement. According to Eritrea, those appeals stressed the importance of respecting the country’s independence and borders.
The Eritrean government accused Ethiopia of disregarding those appeals and continuing what it described as aggressive plans. It also linked the dispute to the military campaign in northern Ethiopia.
Ethiopia has previously accused Eritrea of using military force. The latest allegations add to tensions between the two countries over regional security and access to the Red Sea, with both sides trading accusations over military activities and intentions.
The claims in Eritrea’s statement have not been independently verified.