French writer Noy Oshi Boudan warns of the possible return of war between Ethiopia and Eritrea due to escalating military activities near the Tigray region and significant changes in regional alliances, which are bringing the conflict back to the forefront in the Horn of Africa. In a report for Le Monde, he highlights concerning signs of a new confrontation, just three years after the bloody conflict in Tigray that resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Ethiopia has intensified its drone strikes against the Tigray People's Liberation Front's positions as of January, and military reinforcements have been deployed around the region. The historical context between Ethiopia and Eritrea, marked by the annexation of Eritrea following Italian colonial rule and its subsequent independence, has seen a long-standing border dispute that sparked a major war in 1998, leading to tens of thousands of deaths.

The Ethiopian government has stiffened its rhetoric against Eritrea, demanding the withdrawal of Eritrean forces and the cessation of any cooperation with 'rebels', as there appear to be signs of Eritrea leaning towards a rapprochement with Tigray despite its previous involvement in the Ethiopian conflict. The situation is further exacerbated by the suspension of flights to Eritrea and restrictions on international press access, indicating the sensitivity on the ground and the potential for renewed hostilities.