Ethiopia has ordered the closure of the Eritrean embassy in Addis Ababa, prompting Eritrea to sever all diplomatic ties with its neighbour. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of supporting an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Eritrea has denied the accusation. The African Union Commission has urged both countries to exercise restraint and engage in peaceful dialogue.
Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said it had decided to close its embassy in Asmara, Eritrea, in response to what it termed "direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence" by Eritrea. The ministry also declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, requiring them to leave the country within 48 hours. Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, said that by expelling all Eritrean diplomats, Ethiopia was effectively closing its own embassy in Addis Ababa.
Eritrea's foreign ministry said it had no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. The move has raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. The African Union Commission has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to address their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue. Egypt has also been accused by Ethiopia of supporting the TPLF, which it denies.
The diplomatic tensions come amid reports of explosions in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Three diplomatic sources confirmed that blasts were heard in the city, although witnesses reported no visible damage near a military base. A source linked to the opposition alliance claimed that it had carried out several drone strikes in Addis Ababa, including some that targeted the military's headquarters.
The conflict in Ethiopia has been escalating since last week, with fighting reported in the northern regions of Tigray, Amhara, and Afar. The opposition alliance, led by the TPLF, has been battling troops loyal to Ethiopia's federal government. Eritrea had fought in support of Ethiopia's federal government during the 2020-2022 civil war, but relations between the two countries have soured since then.
Ethiopia's government has also declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours. Egypt has responded in kind, declaring an Ethiopian embassy counsellor persona non grata and giving him 48 hours to leave. Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson Nader Zaki said that Cairo's action was justified, citing the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy.
The conflict has already led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes in the Afar region. The national intelligence service has banned drone flights over Addis Ababa, amid concerns about the opposition's ability to strike the capital. Analysts say that if confirmed, the opposition's use of armed drones would be a "political game-changer", undermining the government's narrative that the capital is unaffected by the war.
Key points
- Ethiopia orders closure of Eritrean embassy, Eritrea cuts ties
- African Union Commission urges peaceful dialogue
- Conflict escalates in northern Ethiopia, humanitarian crisis worsens
