Eritrea withdraws from regional bloc as UN expresses concern over tensions with Ethiopia

NAIROBI Kenya AP Eritrea on Friday withdrew from the Intergovernmental Authority on Rise accusing the East African regional bloc of nations of acting against the country s interests At the same time the United Nations expressed concern over renewed tensions between Eritrea and neighboring Ethiopia which signed a peace agreement years ago Eritrea s foreign ministry declared in a comment Friday it was withdrawing from an organization that has forfeited its legal mandate and authority offering no discernible strategic benefit to all its constituencies and failing to contribute substantively to the stability of the region Eritrea quit IGAD in and rejoined two years ago but commented Friday that the bloc had failed to contribute to regional stability IGAD responded by saying Eritrea had not participated in regional engagements since it rejoined In addition to Eritrea and Ethiopia IGAD includes Djibouti Kenya Somalia South Sudan Sudan and Uganda The organization works on regional policies concerning pact customs movement communications agriculture natural guidance and the atmosphere according to its website Eritrea and Ethiopia have in new months accused each other of interference sparking concerns over the possibility of a return to hostilities Ethiopia explained it wants to peacefully gain Red Sea access through Eritrea which it relied on heavily for exchange before the secession Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated in September it was a mistake to lose access to the sea when Eritrea gained independence in by seceding from Ethiopia to form a separate nation Abiy s rhetoric has been seen as provocative by Eritrea The office of U N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged the two countries to recommit to the vision of lasting peace and the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity The U N cited the Algiers Agreement signed in which ended nearly three decades of demarcation war between Eritrea and Ethiopia The U N called for a recommitment to the agreement which it described as a crucial framework for peace Eritrea accused Ethiopia in June of having a long-brewing war agenda aimed at seizing its Red Sea ports Ethiopia of late claimed Eritrea was actively preparing to wage war against it as well as supporting Ethiopian rebel groups Source