Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic ties as fighting in northern Ethiopia intensifies, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict. Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrean capital Asmara and ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave within forty-eight hours, citing national security threats. Eritrea responded by cutting diplomatic relations, with its foreign ministry stating that Ethiopia's decision left it no choice but to take reciprocal action.
The diplomatic confrontation follows a sharp deterioration in relations between the neighbours, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of supporting a new rebel alliance, a claim Eritrea repeatedly denies. Eritrea described the decision to expel its ambassador as astounding and warned of negative consequences. The Eritrean foreign ministry stated that it had no option but to reciprocate and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The diplomatic crisis marks a dramatic reversal from twenty eighteen, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed restored relations with Eritrea after two decades of hostility. The rapprochement led to joyous scenes as the border reopened and families separated for years were reunited. This breakthrough earned the Ethiopian prime minister the Nobel Peace Prize in twenty nineteen.
The latest hostilities are the most serious since a peace agreement ended the devastating Tigray war in twenty twenty-two, which an African Union mediator estimated claimed around six hundred thousand lives. Last month, the Tigray People's Liberation Front joined six other armed movements to form the Alliance for Survival, with the objective of removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government from power.
Federal forces and their allies appear to have made gains in southern Tigray and are advancing towards Mekelle, the regional capital. In Alamata, a doctor reported that at least fifty-two civilians were killed during three days of intense fighting. The Tigray People's Liberation Front has also been fighting in neighbouring Afar, along Ethiopia's crucial transport corridor to Djibouti and the sea.
Tens of thousands of people are estimated to have fled their homes in the Afar area. Both the Ethiopian government and rebel forces accuse each other of starting the latest hostilities, with Tigrayan authorities saying their forces responded to a federal offensive and drone strikes, while Addis Ababa claims Tigrayan fighters launched attacks after taking control of federally administered airports in Tigray.
The situation remains volatile, with officials on both sides warning of further escalation and negative consequences. The international community is closely watching the developments, concerned about the potential for a wider regional conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Key points
- Ethiopia and Eritrea have cut diplomatic ties amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia.
- The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with tens of thousands displaced and dozens killed.
- The situation marks a dramatic reversal from the diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries in twenty eighteen.
