Madar (Addis Ababa) - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has warned Eritrea that it faces "severe consequences" if it continues to support rebels in his country, in a speech delivered on Monday in Tigrinya, AFP and Africanews reported on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
"Serving as a base for Ethiopia's enemies instead of being a partner in development will not bring benefits. I believe that ignoring our calls will have very, very, very severe consequences," Abiy said. "When Eritrea was part of Ethiopia, its cities were vibrant and beautiful. Today, Eritrean cities seem like ghost towns," he added, saying that "good neighbourly relations and partnership are the only way forward".
Rebels of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an offensive against the federal government last month but were forced to retreat and lost control of the region. The fighting raised fears of a regional war, as the rebels had the backing of Eritrea, which deployed thousands of troops on Ethiopian territory before also withdrawing under drone attacks, according to AFP.
"The TPLF did not exist 50 years ago, and now its existence is coming to an end," Abiy said, pledging development across Tigray and urging residents to preserve their unity until an elected administration is in place. A new federally appointed administration was installed on Friday, and Mekelle's new mayor, Shishay Amare, told AFP that elections would be held within six months.
No Eritrean reaction had been reported in the sources reviewed by Madar. Eritrea, independent since 1993, fears that landlocked Ethiopia will seek to seize access to the Red Sea.
