Ethiopia Seizes Over 56,000 Rounds of Ammunition Allegedly from Eritrea

Ethiopian police say they have seized more than 56,000 rounds of ammunition in the Amhara region, which Addis Ababa claims originated from Eritrea.

The police announced on Wednesday that the ammunition was transported in a lorry from Eritrea and transited through the northern Tigray region with assistance from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The ammunition was intended to arm a militant group operating in the country, according to the statement.

Eritrea has rejected the allegations. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel told reporters that Ethiopia was floating false flags. The TPLF also denied the claims, describing them as unfounded.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993. The two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed initially pursued rapprochement with Eritrea when he came to power, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.

The two governments cooperated against Tigray armed groups during the 2020-2022 war, but relations deteriorated after Eritrea was excluded from the peace accord. Relations have worsened further in recent months.

In an interview with state television on Monday, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki described Ethiopia’s actions as tension-inducing. Ethiopia had claimed in October 2025 that Eritrea was attempting to destabilise it by supporting armed groups, particularly in Amhara. Eritrea dismissed the claims as a sham.

SOURCE: AFP