In an official statement issued on February 9, 2026, the Ethiopian government called for Eritrean troops to quickly withdraw from Ethiopia's sovereign territory. This demand comes at a time when relations between the former partner nations are deteriorating, as occasionally reported by BBC Tigrinya. The main causes of this tension are stated to be border issues and support for armed groups. The statement indicates that the presence of any foreign force on Ethiopian soil violates the country's sovereignty and hinders efforts to establish peace.