The European Union, EU, has called on Eritrean troops to withdraw forces from the Tigray region on grounds that their presence is extending the conflict in the region. Ethiopia and Eritrea have unilaterally denied any presence of Eritrean forces in the region.
In a statement, the EU expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis and encouraged the Ethiopian government to protect the lives of her citizens and refugees, however, the Eritrean Information Minister, Yemane Meskel, described the superficial nature of the issues as appalling.
Tigray, Ethiopia was recently decimated after war broke out between Ethiopian Government forces and the TPLF forces in the region. The Ethiopian forces claimed that the local forces in the region attacked its officers in the region resulting in a full-blown out war, spreading to the Eritrean region which Tigray shares a border.
Prior to that, the TPLF had called for Abiy Ahmed to step down after his tenure was extended due to the pandemic which halted election proceedings.
Several thousands of Tigrayans were displaced as a result, some as refugees in Sudan and even neighbouring Eritrea. Although the TPLF leaders were caught, some alive and others dead, peace has not been fully restored to the Tigray region.