Revenge for Planes: russia Plays on Tensions Between Ethiopia and Eritrea

moscow has launched an information campaign on African resources after Ethiopia refused to provide it with “wet leasing” of planes belonging to the state carrier Ethiopian Airlines. The deal involved leasing aircrafts with crews for domestic flights in the rf.  Addis Ababa justified its refusal by citing the development of its own aviation industry and its unwillingness to violate anti-russian sanctions.

russian propaganda is focusing on “preventing” a war between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. Although tensions between them have eased since the 2018 peace agreement, Eritrea remains one of the kremlin’s most loyal allies in East Africa. It did not support the UN resolution on the withdrawal of russian troops from Ukraine and voted against the creation of a commission to investigate human rights violations.

russian exports to Eritrea have risen sharply: from $406,000 in 2019–2020 to $12.7 million in 2022. Against the background of moscow’s military support for juntas in the Sahel, the escalation in the Horn of Africa could become another component of the strategy to destabilize the continent.