Eritrea: UAE sent 365 military shipments to Ethiopia in 9 months

ASMARA, Oct. 14 (YPA) – Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said that Ethiopia received 365 military shipments from the UAE during the first nine months of 2026, amid escalating tensions between the two countries as fighting resumed in northern Ethiopia and accusations of interference and support for armed groups were exchanged.

He added in a post on X that Addis Ababa had spent unprecedented sums on the military in three years and received more than $30 billion in foreign aid in eight years, accusing the ruling Prosperity Party of prioritizing military expansion over the livelihoods of the population.

He noted that some 21.4 million Ethiopians are living in dire humanitarian conditions and are dependent on aid, a figure that matches 2024 estimates. The European Commission says there are no updated figures for 2026 due to the lack of an agreed-upon analysis with the authorities.

The accusations come amid deteriorating relations, with Addis Ababa accusing Eritrean forces of incursions into Tigray, a claim Asmara denies. Ethiopia’s quest for access to the Red Sea following Eritrea’s 1993 independence and loss of its coastline, and Asmara’s insistence on its sovereignty over its ports, including Assab, form a key point of contention.