Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced the delivery of 12 Russian fighter jets to Ethiopia amid rising tensions with neighbouring Eritrea.
Abiy disclosed the development on Wednesday during the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, where representatives of 48 African countries are attending the two-day meeting.
“We have today taken delivery of the first twelve Su-35 4++ Generation fighter jets,” the Ethiopian leader stated on X, under a “prior agreement with the Russian government”.
He did not provide additional details about the delivery but said Ethiopia would also receive four “S-400 air defence system batteries.”
Abiy described the acquisition as a “historic achievement”, saying it would help the country continue “ensuring our collective security and regional stability”.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which severed diplomatic ties this month.
Ethiopian forces have reportedly advanced towards the Eritrean border in recent weeks after repelling an offensive by Eritrea-backed rebels in the northern Tigray region.
Despite the diplomatic breakdown, Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki are attending the summit in Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that the gathering could provide an opportunity for the two countries to improve relations.
“We are interested in Ethiopia and Eritrea normalising their relations,” Lavrov said, adding Moscow would “provide every opportunity for arranging contact” during the summit.
Eritrea, which gained independence in 1993 under Isaias’s leadership, has expressed concerns that landlocked Ethiopia could attempt to seize access to the Red Sea through military action.
Eritrea was also among five countries that voted against a United Nations resolution in March 2022 demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.
Syria and North Korea were among the other countries that opposed the resolution.
