Ethiopian Troops Move to Border with Eritrea

 Business Insider Africa published on 14 October 2026 an article titled "Fear of a War Between Ethiopia and Eritrea, 28 Years after Their Last, Has Been Ignited as Armies from Both Sides Get Uncomfortably Close to Each Other" by Chinedu Okafor.

Ethiopian National Defense Force troops have positioned themselves at the border with Eritrea in Tigray Region, raising the question whether they plan to cross into Eritrea.  Eritrean Defense Force troops have been supporting the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) inside Tigray Region.  

Challenges Sudanese Refugees Face Entering Egypt

 Refugees International published on 24 July 2023 a paper titled "Sudan in Crisis: Improving the Response for Sudanese Refugees in Egypt" by Abdullahi Boru Halakhe.

About 120,000 Sudanese are stuck between conflict in Sudan and a hostile environment in Egypt at or near the Sudanese/Egyptian border town of Wadi Halfa in unsanitary conditions where they cannot meet their basic needs for weeks.  Relaxation of entry and expediting the refugee determination process, combined with livelihood and labor access by Egyptian authorities and UNHCR, would reduce the humanitarian suffering at the border and inside Egypt.

Eritrea Military Buildup along Tigray Border

 The Associated Press published on 28 September 2022 an article titled "Satellite Images Show Eritrea Military Buildup Near Tigray" by Cara Anna.

Satellite imagery shows that Eritrea has located a large quantity of military equipment and troops across the border from Ethiopia's Tigray Region.  Shelling from Eritrea into Tigray Region has reportedly already begun.  

Ethiopia: Tigray Alleges Eritrean Troops Cross Border and US Confirms

 The Associated Press published on 20 September 2022 an article titled "Eritrea Accused of Starting Offensive in Ethiopia's Tigray" by Rodney Muhumuza.  

The Tigray People's Liberation Front charged that Eritrea is deploying its entire army against neighboring Tigray Region.  The United States Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, said Washington has been tracking Eritrean troop movements across the border and condemns this development.  

Climate-related Security Issues along Sudan-South Sudan Border

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published on 23 September 2021 an analysis titled "Abyei Offers Lessons for the Region on Climate-related Security Risks" by Kheira Tarif, Emilie Broek, and Katongo Seyuba.  

The conflict in the Sudan-South Sudan border area of Abyei offers valuable lessons for UN peacekeeping operations on the importance of recognizing and responding to climate-related security risks.  Climate factors complicate the security situation.  

Reaching a Permanent Ethiopia-Eritrea Peace

Ethiopia Insight posted on 31 January 2019 an article titled "Politicizing Eritrea Peace Perpetuates Conflict Cycle" by Mehari Taddele Maru.

The author argues that until Ethiopian forces stop making use of Eritrea for internal political purposes, genuine peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea will remain elusive. To achieve sustainable peace, there is need to build effective border governance with the active participation of local authorities and communities that leads to a soft border with free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

Getting to Peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea

African Arguments posted on 18 June 2018 a commentary titled "Ethiopia and Eritrea: Turning the Promise of Peace into the Real Thing" by Abdul Mohammed, chair of the InterAfrica Group, an Ethiopian civil society organization.

The author argues that Ethiopia should drive a peace plan with Eritrea. Ethiopia should put on the table its detailed concerns related to the Algiers Agreement and an agenda for normalizing political and economic relations with Eritrea.

Resolving the Ethiopia-Eritrea Dispute

African Arguments posted on 13 June 2018 a commentary titled "How Ethiopia and Eritrea Can Forge a New Relationship" by Herman J. Cohen, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Cohen suggests the following four point plan:

--A mutual security guarantee,
--Re-open the border for trade,
--Restore access to Eritrean ports, and
--Remove sanctions against Eritrea.

Egypt and Sudan's Escalating Border Dispute

Foreign Affairs published on 15 May 2017 an article titled "Egypt and Sudan's Escalating Border Dispute" by Maged Atef.

The author argues that Sudan's position over the disputed Sudan-Egyptian border's Halaib Triangle has improved because of Sudan's improved relations with Saudi Arabia and the United States. The dispute dates back to 1899 and periodically appears as a problem in Egyptian-Sudanese relations.

Ethiopia-Eritrea Border Incident Leads to Excessive Speculation

Foreign Policy published on 20 June 2016 a commentary titled "Africa's Hottest Frozen Border Boils Over" by Michela Wrong, who has written frequently about the Horn of Africa.

Whenever there is a significant security incident along the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, analysts tend to emphasize that it may signal the return to all out conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. We have seen these predictions ever since the end of the Ethiopian-Eritrean war in 2000. While the most recent incident does underscore the advisability of normalizing Ethiopian-Eritrean relations, it does not portend the outbreak of more serious conflict. It is not in the interest of either Ethiopia or Eritrea to resume conflict, which would be strongly opposed by the international community no matter who was responsible for starting the conflict.

Sudan-South Sudan Border

Douglas H. Johnson, an expert on Sudan and member of the 2005 Abyei Boundaries Commission, is the author of When Boundaries Become Borders: The Impact of Boundary-making in Southern Sudan's Frontier Zones published in 2010 by the Rift Valley Institute in Nairobi. Click here to access the entire book.

On 2 May 2012, Johnson published on the Rift Valley Institute website a brief analysis of the dispute over Heglig. Although Heglig is internationally recognized as part of Sudan, he argued that the issue must ultimately be determined in terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and whether Panthou/Heglig is east or west of the boundary line established in 1931. He believes that if it is east, then it is part of Unity State in South Sudan. If it is west, then it is part of Southern Kordofan State in Sudan.

Click here to read his update on Panthou/Heglig.