Russia repeats offer to host Ethiopia-Eritrea talks as Abiy and Isaias arrive in Moscow

Russia has again said it is ready to host talks between Ethiopia and Eritrea, offering Moscow as a neutral venue as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in the Russian capital for the third Russia-Africa Summit, Addis Standard reported on 28 October.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on 28 October that Russia "will strive to host and facilitate the meeting" if both countries show interest. Lavrov noted that Russia had made a similar offer before, and said it would facilitate talks only if both governments wanted them.

On 16 October, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said Moscow would facilitate talks between the two countries, including on the sidelines of the summit, if both sides agreed, according to Addis Standard.

Both leaders in Moscow

Abiy arrived in Moscow on 28 October. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki had left for Russia a day earlier, Addis Standard reported. The summit runs on 28 and 29 October.

Neither government has publicly said it will accept Russia's offer, and no talks have been officially confirmed.

A widening rift

Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have deteriorated since the two countries fought on the same side in the Tigray war, which ended with the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022.

Tensions centre on Ethiopia's push for sovereign access to the Red Sea, which Abiy has called "existential." Eritrea views the push as a threat to its sovereignty, Addis Standard reported. Ethiopian officials have also accused Eritrea of backing armed anti-government groups inside Ethiopia, which Asmara denies.

This report draws on reporting by Addis Standard, as published by AllAfrica.