Egypt may have its own choice, says Eritrean President Isais Afeworki
Borkena
Toronto – Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki gave an extensive interview on Saturday, lasting over two hours, with state-owned Eri-TV. Conducted in Tigrigna, the interview was widely reported by Ethiopian outlets, including DW Amharic.
One key topic was the recent tripartite agreement involving Eritrea, Egypt, and Somalia, signed in October 2024 in Asmara. When asked about claims that the agreement is anti-Ethiopian, President Isaias dismissed such views as “deliberate disinformation aimed at creating confusion.”
He stated, “Ethiopia itself is facing very serious problems; we cannot create additional challenges rather than working to resolve this concerning situation.”
President Isaias also defended the alliance with Egypt, explaining, “Egypt has its own perspectives and choices. The reason we meet and discuss is not one that leads to confrontation with one-another. This has nothing to do with Ethiopia’s situation.”
Concerns Over Egyptian Alliance
Questions have arisen on social media regarding Eritrea’s decision to ally with Egypt, a country locked in a decade-long dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and a history of hostility towards Ethiopia. With 85% of Nile waters originating from Ethiopia, Egypt has labeled the dam a “threat to its national security” and has even hinted at military action. Ethiopia has been pushing “equitable use of the water” while Egypt pushed for exclusive right based on colonial era agreements.
In September 2024, Egypt supplied Somalia with heavy weaponry, shortly before the October agreement with Eritrea. This, combined with Egypt’s military pact with Mogadishu and Somalia’s tense relations with Ethiopia over a January 2024 Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, has fueled suspicions that Eritrea’s alliance is part of a broader strategy targeting Ethiopia.
President Isaias’s denial of anti-Ethiopian intentions in the tripartite agreement has yet to quell concerns. Whether his assurances will resonate remains to be seen in the weeks and months ahead.
Strained Eritrea-Ethiopia Relations
Although Eritrea and Ethiopia ended their two-decade-long no-peace-no-war stalemate, relations have grown tense again in recent years. Many observers attribute this deterioration to the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the conflict between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government.
President Isaias, however, dismissed such speculation, asserting, “The Pretoria Agreement has nothing to do with Eritrea.” He further said that the agreement was prepared by foreign powers.
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As long as Eritrea exists, Ethiopia will suffer. Eritrea has been anti-Ethiopia ever since Italy conquered them. That is why I’d rather support Tigray, although they are not much different.
I really don’t think Egypt could be worst than these two groups.
I thought Al-Toweel has retired already. He is just a tad younger than me. Hey Bro Wedi-Afo! You should retire and stay home with grandkids. I can tell you from retirement years experience, there will be no dull moment with grandkids around. There always be riots at home. Put a trampoline in your backyard, all you have to do is sit back and watch them reaching for the skies. You should think seriously about retiring now. Other African leaders are whispering to each other like, ‘Didn’t Isu chastise us for staying too long in power?’ What they are saying is, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Gaddafi and Mubarak. ‘Ben Ali, Degage!’ and all that, you know! Think!!!