UN Chief: No Proof of Eritrean Troops Fighting in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABEBA – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there is no proof of Eritrean troops inside Ethiopia, where government forces are fighting rebels in the northernmost region of Tigray.

“We have no proof of the presence of Eritrean troops inside Ethiopia,” he said during his press brief on Wednesday.

He also said the he confronted prime minister with that question when the two had a phone conversation on Monday.

“He guaranteed to me that they have not entered the Tigrayan territory, that the only area where they are is the area that corresponded to the disputed territory between the two countries that in the peace agreement was decided to give back to Eritrea,” Guterres told reporters.

“So this was the testimony that was given to me by the prime minister when I confronted him exactly with that question.”

Leaders of the TPLF forces accused Eritrea of sending troops into Ethiopia to support the government soon after thy start to lose control of the region.

Both governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea denied the accusation.