Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Wednesday, Oct. 14, amid rising tensions between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.
The U.S. Department of State said the call focused on ways to de-escalate tensions between the two countries and reaffirmed Washington’s support for the process. Rubio also stressed that countries in the Horn of Africa should respect their neighbors’ territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Diplomatic tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have worsened, with both countries closing their respective embassies, which had reopened after nearly two decades of strained diplomatic relations.
Reports have also emerged of military buildups on both sides of the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of crossing the border and entering Ethiopian territory.
