By Mr. Berhane Ghebrehiwet, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Eritrea in Washington, D.C
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The AU, the UN, and all responsible member states bear not only a moral duty but also a binding legal obligation to reject and condemn Ethiopia’s “Prosperity” Party expansionist rhetoric and its dangerous implications. Their publicly declared maritime ambitions, orchestrated media campaign and planned intentions to invade sovereign Eritrean territories can not be considered a mere political discourse; it is a direct assault, not only against a sovereign country, but also on the international legal order, the Charter of the United Nations, and the foundational principles of the African Union that uphold the recognition of colonial borders and respect the sovereignty of member states.
Failure to act or even silence in the face of such open threats amount to complicity. It will embolden those who entertain daydreams and believe borders can be redrawn by force. It will also further destabilize a region already burdened by instability. The international community must therefore speak with one clear voice; call an aggressor by its name. Aggression, in any form or guise, should neither be tolerated nor have a place in the 21st century. Peace and stability among nations depend on principled, decisive, and collective rejection of unlawful expansionist territorial ambitions.
It has been crystal clear that Eritrea’s independence, its sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable; they were earned through immense sacrifice, united popular support and safeguarded by unshakable national unity and resolve of its people. Any attempt to undermine these principles would be a grave miscalculation. Eritrea possesses both the legitimate right and capability to defend its sovereignty; firmly, lawfully, and decisively.
