Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki described the Red Sea dispute as a conflict “declared against the Ethiopian people” in an interview with the nation’s television network.

Referring to past statements, he highlighted longstanding tensions over water and regional security. On April 4, 2018, Afwerki questioned the focus on the Red Sea, suggesting the underlying issue was the Nile dispute, asking, “Who is this war directed towards?”

Ethiopia’s attempts to secure the Red Sea have combined diplomatic engagement with public messaging described as ‘reconciliation,’ a strategy that Afwerki and observers have met with scepticism. The President dismissed awareness campaigns on the matter as “inappropriate.”

He further asserted that the initial phase of the conflict has disproportionately impacted Ethiopians and cited recent internal tensions, including operations targeting the Fano group in Amhara. Afwerki also referenced unrest in Tigray, Afar, Oromia, and Somalia, framing these events as separate from reconciliation efforts.

“The agenda belongs to others. Those providing funds while being attacked are the others,” he said, pointing to divergent objectives behind regional initiatives. Afwerki warned that ongoing disputes and associated documentation risk provoking “significant unrest, characterized by violence, fear, and chaos.”