Egypt and Ethiopia have expelled diplomats from each other's countries in a tit-for-tat move. The Egyptian and Ethiopian governments announced that they had declared each other's diplomats persona non grata and given them 48 hours to leave their respective countries. The move is seen as an escalation of tensions between the two nations.
The crisis began when the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours. The ministry cited the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, but did not provide a specific reason for the decision. Egypt responded by declaring a member of the Ethiopian embassy in Cairo persona non grata and giving him 48 hours to leave.
An Egyptian government source described the Ethiopian move as "unfortunate" and "unjustified". The source said that Egypt had always respected the sovereignty of other nations and had not commented on internal affairs of other countries, including Ethiopia. The source also accused the Ethiopian government of trying to blame external factors for its internal problems.
The Egyptian source also criticized the Ethiopian government for trying to divert attention from its internal problems by blaming external factors. The source said that Egypt had always adhered to the principles of international law and the UN charter. The expulsion of diplomats is seen as a significant escalation of tensions between the two countries.
The move comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with Ethiopia and Eritrea also experiencing strained relations. On the same day, Ethiopia announced that it was closing its embassy in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, and expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats. Ethiopia accused the Eritrean diplomats of engaging in activities that threatened its national security.
Eritrea responded by cutting diplomatic ties with Ethiopia and accusing it of hostile actions. The exchange of diplomatic expulsions and accusations between Egypt and Ethiopia, and between Ethiopia and Eritrea, reflects the complex and volatile nature of regional politics.
The Egyptian government source said that Egypt had taken a reciprocal measure against the Ethiopian diplomat, declaring him persona non grata and giving him 48 hours to leave the country. The source emphasized that Egypt would continue to uphold the principles of international law and diplomacy.
Key points
- Egypt and Ethiopia have expelled diplomats from each other's countries in a tit-for-tat move.
- The move is seen as an escalation of tensions between the two nations.
- The crisis comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with Ethiopia and Eritrea also experiencing strained relations.
