Travel to Eritrea and Ethiopia: disruption risk as ties cut and Eritrean troops advance

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an "all-out invasion" of its northern Tigray region and warned it will defend itself, days after residents said Eritrean troops had crossed into the country. Fighting between the Ethiopian government and the party that controls Tigray broke out two weeks ago, and fears of a wider regional war are growing.

Key facts

• Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said Eritrean forces advanced up to 60km (37 miles) into Tigray
• Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly targeted Eritrean forces in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat on Wednesday and Thursday
• Ethiopian forces took control of Tigray's main city, Mekelle, last week after TPLF forces withdrew
• Diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea were severed last week
• There have so far been no verified reports of casualties

What is happening in Tigray?

Fighting broke out two weeks ago between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that controls Tigray. Both sides blame each other for violating a 2022 deal that ended a civil war.

Ethiopian forces took control of Mekelle, Tigray's main city, last week after TPLF forces withdrew. Mekelle is 115km (71 miles) south of Adigrat, where Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly targeted Eritrean forces on Wednesday and Thursday.

US-based conflict monitor Acled said "Eritrean troops and ammunition" in Adigrat were hit by "multiple drone strikes" overnight. One resident told AFP news agency there were "many, many drone strikes" and that some Eritrean lorries had been destroyed. Another witness said Eritrean forces appeared to be retreating north after the strikes.

What have Ethiopia and Eritrea said?

In a letter sent to the UN Security Council and dated 8 October, Ethiopia's foreign minister called the Eritrean advance a "blatant act of aggression that engages Ethiopia's inherent right to self-defence". The letter said Ethiopia was "left with no other option but to defend itself".

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said Eritrea was facing "an unprovoked war of aggression" from its neighbour. He called the accusations levelled against Asmara "duplicity in their most extreme forms" and said Ethiopia was openly working to bring about regime change in Eritrea.

Ethiopia says Eritrea is backing the TPLF, which Eritrea denies. Eritrea has blamed the conflict on Ethiopia's leaders and accused them of looking for a reason to seize Eritrean territory.

Why are relations between the two countries strained?

During the two-year civil war, Eritrea was a key ally of the Ethiopian government and fought alongside them against the TPLF. Relations have since deteriorated, largely over the Ethiopian prime minister's ambition to take ownership of one of Eritrea's Red Sea ports, leading to the severing of diplomatic ties last week.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, but ties were only normalised in 2018, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. The latest unrest follows months of tension and the launch of a new alliance of armed groups in Ethiopia, including the TPLF, in September.

What this means for travellers

The fighting is concentrated in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, with reported strikes around Adigrat and Ethiopian army control of Mekelle. The BBC is unable to report from Tigray, and there have so far been no verified reports of casualties. Travellers should follow developments closely before planning any travel to the region.

No verified casualty figures have been released, and the situation on the ground remains unclear. Further developments are expected as both countries continue to trade accusations.