Ethiopia has severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt, accusing them of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels. The move comes after a recent escalation of tensions between Ethiopia and the three countries. On October 1, 2026, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had closed its embassy in Asmara, Eritrea's capital, in response to what it called "hostile actions" and "diplomatic affronts" from Eritrea.
The decision to close the embassy was followed by Eritrea's announcement that it had suspended diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. Eritrea gave 48 hours' notice to Ethiopian diplomats to leave the country. In a tit-for-tat move, Ethiopia also expelled Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman, Egypt's diplomat, from its territory. The Ethiopian government accuses Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea of providing support to TPLF rebels, who have recently resumed fighting against the Ethiopian government.
The TPLF, a political and military organization that ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, has recently joined forces with six other groups to launch a new campaign against the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The group has started attacks from its stronghold in the Tigray region. The conflict has raised concerns about regional stability, with the African Union (AU) calling for calm and urging the parties to resolve their differences through dialogue.
The AU's Commissioner has expressed concerns about the escalation of tensions and called on the parties to engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve their differences. The conflict has a history, with tensions between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government increasing after Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018. The two sides clashed in a devastating conflict between 2020 and 2022, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths.
Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea have denied allegations of supporting the TPLF rebels. The three countries have not commented on Ethiopia's accusations, but they have previously expressed concerns about the conflict in Ethiopia. The situation remains volatile, with fears of a wider conflict in the region.
The conflict has also raised concerns about humanitarian crises, with many civilians caught in the crossfire. The Ethiopian government has accused the TPLF of targeting civilians and infrastructure, while the TPLF has accused the government of committing atrocities. The situation on the ground remains uncertain, with reports of sporadic fighting and displacement of civilians.
The international community has called for calm and urged the parties to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. The Ethiopian government has vowed to take measures to protect its territory and citizens, while the TPLF has vowed to continue fighting until its demands are met. The situation remains uncertain, with many fearing a wider conflict in the region.
Key points
- Ethiopia has severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt, citing support for TPLF rebels.
- The conflict has raised concerns about regional stability and humanitarian crises.
- The international community has called for calm and urged the parties to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences.
