Eritrean journalist and activist Henok Tekle, who is active on social media platforms including TikTok, is calling on his fellow citizens to stop beating the drums of war and instead call for peace. Article translated from Tigrinya.

After months of mounting tensions, fighting has erupted in northern Ethiopia between the federal government and Tsimido-allied forces backed by Eritrea. The Tigrinya word Tsimido evokes the idea of distinct actors coming together and acting as one—a description that reflects the alliance at the center of the confrontation. The fighting has begun, but there is no clear indication of how long it will last or when it will end.

Some observers have warned that the conflict could become more dangerous and bloodier as tensions deepen between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. Their increasingly adversarial relationship has raised concerns that the conflict could become a high-stakes confrontation in which neither side is willing to back down.

Some believe the war could ultimately reach Arat Kilo, the seat of federal government, and could even threaten Abiy Ahmed’s position.

As Eritreans, we should come together and call for peace because there is nothing to gain from war. The only things war brings are destruction, death, displacement, and forcing people to leave their country. No one knows the cost of war better than Eritreans.

We should call for peace because peace is the foundation for everything. Past experiences have shown that, in the end, conflicts are settled at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield. There is no better time than now to choose dialogue over war and work toward a peaceful resolution.Why should thousands of young people lose their lives?

As an Eritrean living abroad, there is a message I want to share with Eritreans at home and with those living abroad. Sadly, some activists and media figures who have long advocated for justice and political change in Eritrea are now backing the Isaias regime, beating the drums of war, and calling on Eritreans to fight to overthrow the Ethiopian government.They are now presenting the conflict as a moment when a foreign enemy is threatening the country and arguing that everyone must stand up to defend the nation.

This is deeply sad and, in my view, shameful, because I do not believe this narrative reflects the reality.If there is a struggle to be fought, it should be a struggle against injustice and repression at home—not a call for Eritreans to take up arms against another country. The issue we should be addressing is the suffering experienced by Eritreans at home. The policies and actions of the Eritrean government have been a major factor behind the hardships many Eritreans face, including the continued departure of young people from the country.

The Eritrean government has often portrayed real or perceived external enemies as threats to the country. Blindly following calls for war and putting young people’s lives at risk is not the right thing to do. From 1998 to 2000, we fought a devastating war in which tens of thousands of people lost their lives, triggered by clashes over disputed territory, only to later hear claims that there was no fundamental border problem between the two countries. In 2020, we became involved in another conflict in Tigray that was not ours and did not concern us. Once again we paid a heavy price, with many lives lost and communities affected by the consequences of war.There are still families waiting for news about the whereabouts of their children, unsure whether they are alive or dead. Some of those who were captured were labeled as traitors and accused of being disloyal to Eritrea.

We have to learn from our past experiences and not repeat the mistakes that have cost so many lives. We should urge all parties to end the fighting, protect civilians and pursue dialogue rather than further violence. The people of the region have already endured enormous suffering, and another devastating conflict must be avoided.