United Nations, New York – December 12, 2025 – On the 25th anniversary of the landmark Algiers Agreement, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Eritrea and Ethiopia to reaffirm their commitment to the 2000 peace treaty that ended a devastating border war between the two Horn of Africa nations. The appeal comes at a precarious moment, as recent diplomatic spats, military mobilizations, and accusations of proxy meddling have reignited fears of renewed hostilities in a region already strained by internal conflicts and geopolitical rivalries.
"Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Algiers Agreement, a landmark peace treaty that formally ended the border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia and established a crucial framework for peaceful relations between the two nations," stated Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for Guterres, in a message released on Friday. The agreement, signed on December 12, 2000, in Algiers, Algeria, not only halted the two-year Eritrean-Ethiopian War but also created mechanisms for border demarcation and claims resolution, reaffirming principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with international backing from the United Nations, the African Union (then the Organization of African Unity), the United States, and the European Union.
The treaty’s significance cannot be overstated. It followed a brutal conflict that erupted in May 1998 over disputed border areas, particularly the village of Badme, and claimed between 70,000 and 100,000 lives, including soldiers and civilians caught in crossfire and aerial bombardments. Eritrean forces initially seized Badme, prompting a fierce Ethiopian counteroffensive that recaptured much of the territory by mid-2000. The war displaced over a million people and drained both economies, with Eritrea’s GDP contracting by 10% in 1999 alone and Ethiopia facing massive reconstruction costs estimated at $1 billion. An independent Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, established under the agreement, ruled in 2002 that Badme belonged to Eritrea, though Ethiopia rejected the “final and binding” decision, leading to a “no war, no peace” stalemate that persisted until a dramatic 2018 rapprochement.
Guterres highlighted the agreement’s enduring value, noting that it “reaffirmed the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity for both nations” while fostering mechanisms like the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission to address war damages. He referenced the 2018 joint declaration by then-Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, which thawed relations and earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize, as proof of dialogue’s potential. “At this important milestone, the Secretary-General reiterates the steadfast support of the United Nations for the Algiers Agreement,” the statement emphasized, urging both sides to “recommit to the vision of lasting peace” and collaborate with regional partners on development initiatives.
Yet, the anniversary unfolds against a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating ties. Since early 2025, rhetoric has sharpened, with Ethiopian officials accusing Eritrea of arming Tigrayan dissidents to destabilize Addis Ababa, while Asmara alleges Ethiopian designs on its Red Sea ports, particularly Assab. In October, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos wrote to Guterres claiming Eritrea was “actively preparing for war” in collusion with a hardline faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), funding attacks in the Amhara region and mobilizing reserves along the border. Eritrea dismissed the charges as “childish provocation,” warning that Ethiopia’s sea access ambitions—framed by Abiy as an “existential matter”—threaten its sovereignty.
These frictions trace back to Eritrea’s 1993 independence, formalized after a 30-year guerrilla war against Ethiopian rule. Eritrea, colonized by Italy in the late 19th century and federated with Ethiopia in 1952 under UN auspices, saw its autonomy eroded by Emperor Haile Selassie’s annexation in 1962, sparking the Eritrean Liberation Front’s armed struggle. The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) eventually triumphed alongside the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in ousting the Derg regime in 1991. A UN-monitored referendum in April 1993 delivered 99.8% support for independence, with Eritrea joining the UN on May 28 that year. Initial post-independence cooperation soured over economic disputes, currency issues, and border ambiguities, culminating in the 1998 invasion that the Permanent Court of Arbitration later deemed unlawful under international law.
The 2018 peace breakthrough briefly promised prosperity, reopening trade routes and airlines. However, fallout from Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 Tigray War—where Eritrean troops allied with Abiy against the TPLF, causing up to 600,000 deaths—has fractured that accord. Eritrea’s alleged support for TPLF splinter groups, including arms smuggling and tactical alliances, has fueled Ethiopian paranoia, while Abiy’s overtures for Assab access evoke fears of revanchism. By August 2025, both nations had massed troops along the 1,000-km border, with Eritrea imposing travel restrictions and Ethiopia reporting incursions in Afar and Tigray regions. Analysts warn of a “low-intensity proxy conflict” escalating into full war, potentially displacing millions and disrupting Red Sea shipping lanes vital to global trade.
The Global Peace Index 2025 flagged the Eritrea-Ethiopia dyad as one of four worldwide at “highest risk of rapid and severe escalation,” citing unresolved borders, militarization, and historical grievances. Regional actors like Egypt, wary of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, have deepened ties with Asmara, while Somalia eyes its own maritime disputes with Addis Ababa. Humanitarian fallout looms large: Tigray still grapples with famine and displacement from the recent war, and renewed fighting could exacerbate food insecurity across the Horn, where 20 million already face acute hunger.
Guterres’ plea echoes calls from the European Union and the United States, which in past anniversaries reaffirmed support for the boundary ruling and urged restraint. “Both sides must continue working with regional and international partners to advance development cooperation for the benefit of all,” the UN statement concluded, advocating joint economic projects like shared port access or infrastructure to build trust.
As the sun sets on this silver anniversary, the Algiers Agreement stands as both beacon and cautionary tale. For Eritrea and Ethiopia—nations forged in shared struggle yet divided by scars—the path forward demands not just words, but deeds. In a region where proxy battles and superpower shadows lengthen, recommitting to peace may be the only bulwark against history’s cruel repetition. The international community watches closely, hoping dialogue prevails over the drumbeat of war once more.
