Ethiopian police say they have seized thousands of rounds of ammunition sent by Eritrea to a violent armed rebel group, stoking fears of renewed armed conflict.
Eritrea has denied the allegation and accused Ethiopia of floating false flags to justify the war that it has been itching to unleash for two long years.
It comes at a volatile moment for the relationship between the Horn of Africa neighbours, which share a fractious and violent history.
Hopes of tentative peace, forged during a 2020-22 civil war in northern Ethiopia, have of late given way to a war of words over control of the Red Sea. This latest claim appears to be a sign of further escalation.
On Wednesday, Ethiopian police stated that they had seized more than 56,000 rounds of ammunition in the Amhara region intended to arm the Fano rebels and had arrested two suspects.
A preliminary investigation confirmed that the ammunition was sent by the Shabiya government, referring to Eritrea's ruling party.
Relations between the two countries have frequently been strained. Eritrea, which has a 1,350km (840-mile) Red Sea coastline, officially seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving it landlocked, following decades of conflict.
In 2018, the nations signed a historic declaration to normalize relations. However, tensions have escalated recently, particularly regarding Ethiopia's calls for access to the Red Sea through Eritrea.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stressed that Ethiopia's access to the sea is an existential matter, while Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki accused Abiy's party of declaring war, insisting Eritrea does not desire conflict but is prepared to defend itself.
