The Ethiopian Federal Police, acting under the authority of the Ethiopian Federal Government under the leadership of prime minister Abiy Ahmed, has reported seizing more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition allegedly sent by Eritrea to arm insurgent groups operating in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, an incident that has intensified diplomatic and security tensions between the neighbouring Horn of Africa states.
Authorities said the consignment, intercepted in Amhara, was intended to supply rebel fighters, particularly elements of the Fano militia, who have been engaged in conflict with the federal government since 2023. Ethiopian police also reportedly arrested two individuals linked to the shipment.
The Ethiopian Federal Government has accused the Eritrean regime of seeking to destabilise Ethiopia by equipping armed groups, allegations that Eritrea has dismissed. Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara had experienced a brief thaw following a 2018 peace agreement, but cooperation has since deteriorated amid disputes over regional security dynamics and exclusion from key peace negotiations.
The discovery of the large ammunition cache and ensuing political fallout reflects wider ongoing tensions in the Horn of Africa, where internal insurgencies and cross‑border rivalries continue to threaten stability
