Ethiopia admits presence of Eritrean troops in Tigray

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s prime minister on Tuesday admitted that Eritrean troops have captured some border areas in the restive Tigray region.

At a parliamentary question and answer session, Abiy Ahmed said consultations are ongoing with the highest leadership of Eritrea on the issue, adding the Eritrean side has already expressed commitment to pull out once the areas are fully secured by Ethiopia.

Ethiopia mobilized its troops from border areas to the south in order to deal with the rebellious Tigray People's Liberation Front, creating a security vacuum, according to the argument presented by Eritrea for its forces having occupied the border areas.

Ethiopia and Eritrea made peace in 2018, ending decades of tensions and mistrust.

Abiy won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for extending an olive branch to Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki.

The two have been friends ever since and met several times. A road linking Ethiopia to the port of Assab in Eritrea has been constructed, opening up more opportunities for landlocked Ethiopia.