Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told members of the House of People’s Representatives on Tuesday, that crimes committed by Eritrean soldiers during the Tigray War are the root cause of the current tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Speaking in response to lawmakers’ questions, Abiy also addressed the destruction caused by Ethiopian troops during the conflict. He rejected claims that the dispute between the two countries began over the Red Sea issue, calling this a misconception. “The conflict did not start with the Red Sea issue as many people think,” he said.

Abiy traced the origins of the tensions to the Tigray War, explaining that “when the fighting in Tigray began, after we liberated Shire in the first round of fighting, the conflict began when the Eritrean army began demolishing the houses and floors of some individuals from behind; we did not speak out.”

Reflecting on the broader historical relationship between the two nations, the Prime Minister added, “Since the creation of Eritrea, there has been a problem between the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments. After we came, we begged for forgiveness, saying we were no longer needed.”