The African Union Commission issued a clarification on Sunday, October 4, 2026, regarding a statement on the Horn of Africa. The statement, released earlier in the week, called for restraint in the region following a series of diplomatic expulsions involving Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt. The Commission emphasized that its statement was not meant to assign blame to any neighboring country for the region's tensions.
The clarification was made in response to observations raised by Egypt. An Egyptian source had described the AU statement as an attempt to draw Egypt into what the source called an internal Ethiopian matter. Egypt's foreign policy is based on respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and good neighborly relations. The source urged against attempts to divert attention from the "real domestic drivers" of Ethiopia's crisis.
The current crisis in Ethiopia is an internal matter with no connection to Egypt, according to the Egyptian source. Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, later stated that recent Ethiopian statements sought to blame external parties for domestic problems. Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt had no involvement in developments inside Ethiopia and did not interfere in its domestic affairs.
The diplomatic tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia escalated after Ethiopia declared an Egyptian diplomat at its embassy in Addis Ababa persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours. Egypt responded by declaring a counsellor at the Ethiopian Embassy in Cairo persona non grata and giving him 48 hours to leave the country. The Ethiopian move came after Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara.
The African Union Commission reaffirmed its commitment to the AU's principles of respect for national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as non-interference in member states' internal affairs. The Commission supports political solutions and believes that military options should not prevail. Its position is strictly within its mandate to promote peace, security, and stability across Africa.
The Commission's appeal for restraint, preservation of communication channels, and the use of diplomacy was made in line with the responsibilities set out in the AU's Constitutive Act and the Commission's statutes. The appeal aimed to prevent misunderstandings and a further escalation of tensions that could affect regional stability. The Commission also stressed its close ties with Egypt, citing its role as a founding member of the AU.
On Thursday, the Commission urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to refrain from actions or statements that could further escalate tensions. It called for keeping communication channels open and resolving differences through diplomatic channels and dialogue, expressing its readiness to support de-escalation efforts.
Key points
- The African Union Commission clarified its statement on the Horn of Africa, emphasizing it did not intend to attribute responsibility for regional tensions to any country.
- Egypt and Ethiopia have been engaged in a diplomatic row, with each side declaring diplomats persona non grata.
- The African Union Commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability across Africa.
