Addis Ababa has sent a complaint to the UN, alleging its neighbor is plotting armed conflict

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of preparing for war and coordinating with rebel groups, according to a letter cited by news outlets Addis Standard and AFP on Wednesday.

In the letter dated October 2, addressed to the UN secretary-general, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos claimed that "collusion" between the Eritrean government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) "has become more evident over the past few months" and that the alliance is "actively preparing to wage war against Ethiopia."

He further accused Eritrea and the TPLF of "financing, mobilizing, and directing armed groups" operating in the Amhara region.

According to AFP, Eritrea on Thursday dismissed Ethiopia's accusation that it is preparing for war as "provocative sabre-rattling." Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel condemned Addis Ababa's letter to the UN as a "deceitful charade." 

The TPLF also rejected the claims, stating that "the federal government appears to be building a case for yet another war in the region based on unfounded allegations."

The accusations come amid escalating tensions between the two countries, as Ethiopia seeks to secure renewed access to the Red Sea - a move that has increased friction with its northern neighbor.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, but the two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 that claimed tens of thousands of lives. Relations improved in 2018 after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power, and Eritrean forces later backed Ethiopia's federal troops during the Tigray War (2020-2022).

In March, Ethiopia's prime minister emphasized that his country aims to gain sea access through negotiations rather than force. "Ethiopia does not have any intention of engaging in conflict with Eritrea for the purpose of gaining access to the sea," Abiy said. 

Ethiopia's regional tensions extend beyond Eritrea. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly criticized the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile. 

READ MORE: Egypt accuses Ethiopia of being 'reckless' with Nile dam

Last week, Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation accused Addis Ababa of "reckless management" of the dam, alleging it has worsened flooding and endangered lives downstream. Cairo said Ethiopia's actions violate international law. Ethiopia rejected the accusations as "malicious and baseless," citing decades of hydrological data and arguing that GERD operations have in fact helped mitigate floods.