Date: 30 September 2025
The Eritrean Global Yiakle Movement, representing Eritreans worldwide dedicated to justice, democracy, and human rights in Eritrea, extends its sincere congratulations to the people of Ethiopia on the successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
We wholeheartedly acknowledge the significance of GERD not only for Ethiopia but also for the people of the region, and we hope it will become a catalyst for cooperation rather than a point of contention. We also hope that the Geez new year, 2018, will be one of peace and tranquillity, where all unresolved issues and conflicts are resolved through peaceful negotiation and reconciliation.
However, the Global Yiakle Movement is also compelled to express its profound concern and dismay over the looming threat of a catastrophic new war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. For several months, the Ethiopian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has engaged in an increasingly dangerous campaign of threats against Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. A central focus of this campaign is the aggressive and explicit claim to Eritrea’s Red Sea port of Assab. This rhetoric goes beyond mere political posturing; it represents a blatant violation of international law and poses a clear threat to regional peace.
Prime Minister Abiy has publicly described Ethiopia’s internationally recognized border with Eritrea as a “historical mistake” that “will be corrected.” He has declared that access to the Red Sea is a matter of national “survival” and stated that it is “only a matter of time” before Ethiopia reclaims Assab. This belligerent language is being amplified by Ethiopian state media, which is disseminating nationalist propaganda and disinformation, including doctored maps, to stoke public sentiment for war. These actions directly contravene the foundational principles of both the United Nations Charter and the African Union Constitutive Act, which unequivocally uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states.
The border between Eritrea and Ethiopia is not subject to debate. Eritrean borders, like those of all other formerly colonized African countries, are defined by the boundaries that existed during the Italian colonial period. The border conflict was definitively settled through a “final and binding” arbitration agreement between the two governments. Ethiopia’s current claim is an attempt to unilaterally dismantle this internationally recognized border. Furthermore, the mobilization of Ethiopian troops near the Eritrean border confirms that these threats are not empty. War between the two countries now appears imminent.
The primary driver of this crisis is Ethiopia’s aggression, which is further exacerbated by the oppressive nature of Eritrea’s regime. President Isaias Afwerki’s government cynically exploits the Ethiopian threat to tighten its authoritarian grip on the Eritrean people. The impending war serves as a convenient pretext for the regime to justify its ongoing oppression and exploitation, thereby denying fundamental human and democratic rights. The external threat is used as a tool to keep the country on a permanent war footing, perpetuating the abusive system. The Eritrean people find themselves trapped between an external existential threat and an internal oppressor who benefits from the “no war, no peace” status quo, a situation this new crisis threatens to worsen.
Both Eritrea and Ethiopia have endured decades of internal and external wars. A new conflict would be an unmitigated disaster for the people of both nations, who are still reeling from displacement, economic hardship, and trauma. It would trigger a massive humanitarian crisis, further destabilize the Horn of Africa, and create a security vacuum that could be exploited by extremist groups. Additionally, geopolitical maneuvering by regional and international actors risks inflaming this volatile situation.
We, therefore, urgently call upon the entire Ethiopian people, at home and abroad, to stand united against this imminent war and join hands with the Eritrean people in demanding peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
We all stand to benefit and prosper from rapprochement, cooperation, and complementarity, not from aggression against one another. History teaches us that it is the people who bear the heaviest burden of war, not the officials in Arat Kilo or Adi Halo.
We call upon all peace-loving citizens of both nations—activists, journalists, religious leaders, mothers, fathers, youth, and intellectuals, to unite their voices against war and champion peaceful coexistence and mutual cooperation between our two nations.
We call for the following actions:
- To unequivocally denounce the Ethiopian government’s claims on Eritrean territory and threats to acquire it by force as violations of international law and threats to international peace.
- To reaffirm the “final and binding” nature of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission (EEBC) decision, recognizing it as the official border between the two countries.
- To insist on the immediate cessation of military posturing and the withdrawal of troops from border regions to reduce the risk of accidental conflict.
- To launch high-level, concerted public diplomacy by citizens of both countries, making it clear that any attempt to alter borders by force is unacceptable and will be met with serious consequences. Maritime access for Ethiopia through the Eritrean port of Assab, consistent with international norms and negotiated agreements, could be one aspect of such diplomacy.
As we address this external threat, we, as peace-loving Eritreans, will continue to exert pressure on the Eritrean government to end its repressive policies and begin a genuine transition toward democracy.
Global Yiakl Eritrean Movement
30 September 2025
