The key facts

  • Intensified fighting near Badme: Ethiopian drones against Eritrean heavy artillery, according to diplomatic sources
  • ACLED: neither army controls Badme; Ethiopia captured Sheraro on November 3
  • After their November 9–10 meeting in Paris, the G7 called on the parties to exercise maximum restraint

Escalation near Badme

Fighting between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces near the disputed border town of Badme has intensified over several days: drone strikes and heavy artillery shelling are being used, and civilians are leaving their homes. This was reported by the Ethiopian outlet Addis Standard, citing diplomatic sources, and the Anadolu agency quoted its report. One of two diplomats familiar with intelligence assessments told the outlet about drone strikes coming 'primarily from the Ethiopian side' and the use of heavy artillery by Eritreans; the other warned that the exchanges of strikes could escalate into a full-scale war between the neighbors.

What monitoring groups record and what is happening on the ground

On November 13, the ACLED project reported that Ethiopian federal troops are positioned between Sheraro and Badme, while Eritrean forces are near the town's perimeter; Badme is under the control of neither army. The monitoring also documented Ethiopian artillery fire on areas near Badme and renewed clashes between federal troops and Tigrayan fighters. Another monitoring group, the Critical Threats Project, noted in its November 10 assessment a military buildup and clashes near Badme, but could not determine on which side of the border the fighting was taking place. Residents, according to reports, heard nighttime explosions, closed their shops, and left with their families as the presence of Ethiopian federal troops around the town grew. The escalation follows the Ethiopian army's advance toward the border, including the capture of Sheraro on November 3, according to conflict monitors.

Context and international reaction

Badme, located roughly 800 km north of Addis Ababa and 130 km southwest of Asmara, was the focal point of the 1998–2000 border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Relations between the two countries have sharply deteriorated amid mutual accusations of supporting armed groups and disagreements over Ethiopia's push to gain access to the Red Sea. After their meeting in Paris on November 9–10, the G7 foreign ministers expressed 'grave concern' over the deteriorating security situation and called on both countries to 'exercise maximum restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions.' The escalation threatens to deepen instability in the Horn of Africa, where fighting in northern Ethiopia has already led to the displacement of civilians and disruptions to humanitarian aid.