Ethiopia says it seized Eritrean ammunition intended for rebels

Thursday 15 January 2026 - 15:00

By: Sahili Aya

Ethiopia says it seized Eritrean ammunition intended for rebels

Ethiopian police announced the seizure of more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition allegedly sent from Eritrea to arm rebel groups fighting federal authorities, further heightening tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbors.

According to a police statement, the ammunition was intercepted in the Amhara region and was reportedly intended for Fano militias, armed groups drawn from the Amhara ethnic community that have been engaged in clashes with the federal government since 2023. Authorities claim the shipment transited through the northern Tigray region with logistical support from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Addis Ababa has repeatedly accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups seeking to destabilize Ethiopia, allegations that Asmara has firmly denied. Ethiopian officials have also pointed to alleged cooperation between Eritrea and elements within the TPLF, a party that once dominated federal politics but is now largely confined to its stronghold in Tigray.

TPLF representatives have rejected the accusations, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated. They argue that such claims risk undermining the Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia in 2022.

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, historically marked by rivalry and conflict, have sharply deteriorated in recent months after a brief period of rapprochement earlier in the decade. The latest incident underscores the fragility of regional stability and the persistence of unresolved tensions in the Horn of Africa.