Ethiopia and Eritrea Cut Diplomatic Ties After New Escalation of Tensions

The decision followed the Ethiopian Government’s announcement that it would close its embassy in Asmara and expel ten Eritrean diplomats accredited in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the diplomats persona non grata and gave them 48 hours to leave the country, accusing them of involvement in activities considered a direct threat to national security.

Addis Ababa also said the measures were taken in response to what it described as hostile acts by Eritrea.

Hours later, the Eritrean Government announced reciprocal measures, confirming the severing of diplomatic relations with Ethiopia and the closure of its diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa.

New Escalation in Northern Ethiopia

The diplomatic crisis comes amid intensified fighting in northern Ethiopia, where federal forces are facing armed groups linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Hostilities worsened after Tigrayan forces launched new offensives, with clashes also reported in the Afar and Amhara regions.

The Ethiopian Government accuses Eritrea of supporting armed groups involved in the fighting, an allegation rejected by Asmara.

Eritrea, for its part, accuses Ethiopia of adopting a hostile stance and using allegations of interference to justify measures against its neighbour.

The accusations from both sides come amid a rapid deterioration in relations between the two countries, which had normalised ties in 2018.

Explosions Raise Concern

The escalation took on a new dimension after explosions were heard in Addis Ababa, including near military facilities.

An alliance of armed groups claimed responsibility for drone attacks against military positions in the capital, although several details of the incidents remain independently unverified.

Ethiopian authorities also imposed restrictions on drone flights over the capital and surrounding areas as instability spread to new parts of the country.

Fears of Another Large-Scale Conflict

The worsening situation has revived concerns over a possible return to a conflict similar to the 2020–2022 war between the federal Government and Tigrayan forces.

At the time, Eritrea supported Ethiopian federal troops militarily but was not part of the 2022 peace agreement that ended the main phase of the fighting.

Since then, relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated amid disputes over border security and Ethiopia’s interest in securing greater access to the Red Sea.

The African Union has urged both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue, amid concerns that the crisis could further destabilise the Horn of Africa.