In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ethiopia has accused its northern neighbor of conspiring with opposition groups to wage war, according to a letter sent by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The letter alleges that Eritrea, in collaboration with a hardline faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), is actively funding and mobilizing armed groups in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. This accusation comes amid growing friction over Ethiopia’s bid to regain access to the Red Sea, a move that has alarmed Eritrea, which controls the coastline since its independence in 1993. The two nations previously fought a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000, which claimed tens of thousands of lives. Although relations improved after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, recent developments have reignited hostilities. Ethiopia’s push for Red Sea access has been met with sharp criticism from Eritrea, with its Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel dismissing Ethiopia’s claims as ‘bizarre and mind-boggling.’ Meanwhile, Ethiopia faces internal unrest, particularly in the Amhara region, where the Fano militia, previously allied with Abiy’s government, is now opposing federal forces. The situation remains volatile, with fears of a broader conflict looming.