June 3, 2025
By: Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Salsay Weyane Tigray, a prominent opposition party in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, has issued a warning over what it describes as “escalating threats” to peace and security in the region. In a press statement released on June 2, the party accused the federal government of imposing a blockade on Tigray under the pretext of countering cross-border smuggling, calling it a “severe impediment to the peace process.”
“This blockade is a direct threat to the well-being of our people,” the statement read. “We demand an immediate halt to such measures and urge all stakeholders to stop using the rights of Tigrayans as political leverage,” it said.
The party also reiterated its call for the complete and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign forces— though it didn’t identify by name, it is particularly entailing Eritrean troops—from Tigrayan territory, asserting that their continued presence violates both Ethiopian sovereignty and the terms of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement.
In an exclusive interview with Borkena on May 28, Salsay Weyane’s Communication Head, Berhane Atsbeha, leveled further criticism at both the federal government and the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). He accused the TPLF of leading Tigray into “an unnecessary and destructive war” with the Ethiopian government, which began on November 3, 2020, and concluded two years later with the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
“The war was avoidable. The TPLF’s stubbornness led us into a devastating conflict that cost thousands of lives and left widespread destruction,” said Berhane.
Although the Pretoria Agreement was initially welcomed as a breakthrough, Salsay Weyane contends that it has only entrenched political exclusion in the region. “We have consistently opposed the TPLF’s monopolization of the interim administration,” Berhane stated. “Despite the peace accord, opposition parties like ours have been sidelined.”
One of the most serious allegations centers around the continued presence of Eritrean forces in northern Tigray. “We have credible evidence that Eritrean forces are still in control of areas like Zalambessa and Shiraro,” Berhane said. “The TPLF and federal government are turning a blind eye to atrocities—looting, rape, and violence—inflicted on our people.”
Although Eritrean troops were reportedly seen dismantling a camp near Zalambessa on May 20, residents told BBC Amharic that Eritrean forces have not fully withdrawn. The towns of Badme, Shiraro, and Rama remain under foreign control, according to local accounts.
The situation has been further complicated by rising tensions between the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments. Diplomatic sources report increasing friction over the slow implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and unresolved border disputes, though neither government has officially commented on the matter.
Background
Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia have resurfaced following the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, which was meant to bring an end to the devastating conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Recent remarks from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and responses from Ethiopian officials have revealed a growing rift between the two neighbors, raising concerns about the stability of the Horn of Africa.
President Afwerki has firmly denied any Eritrean interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs. In a 2023 public statement, he dismissed allegations of human rights abuses by Eritrean forces in Tigray as “fantasy” and stressed that Eritrea had no role in obstructing Ethiopia’s peace efforts. He also rejected widespread claims that Eritrea, Egypt, and Somalia were forming an alliance against Ethiopia, calling the accusations “disinformation” designed to disrupt regional peace. Afwerki maintained that Eritrea is committed to cooperation and stability across the region.
At the same time, Afwerki has not shied away from criticizing Ethiopia’s political system. He repeatedly described Ethiopia’s 1994 constitution as “fundamentally flawed” and a source of the country’s ongoing ethnic and political divisions. In his view, it hampers national unity and remains a major obstacle to long-term peace and development. These comments have not gone unnoticed in Addis Ababa, where some Ethiopian officials see them as unhelpful and intrusive at a time when the country is working through complex post-conflict transitions.
On Ethiopia’s part, frustrations are growing over what is perceived as Eritrea’s lingering influence in the Tigray region. Former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome has openly accused Afwerki of exploiting divisions within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to undermine the Pretoria Agreement. He warned that such actions could reignite conflict in northern Ethiopia—risks that could have wider implications for the region.
Eritrea through its Ministry of Information responded swiftly to those allegations, firmly denying any involvement and urging Ethiopian leaders to take responsibility for their own internal challenges. The ministry emphasized Eritrea’s interest in a peaceful, stable neighborhood and blamed Ethiopia’s political woes on its own flawed governance framework, rather than external interference.
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