Ethiopia has announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, and the expulsion of 10 Eritrean diplomats, citing activities posing a "direct threat to national security". The move comes amid renewed fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a conflict that has also strained relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two countries had previously fought a war over their border from 1998 to 2000, but had restored ties in 2018, earning Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
The immediate trigger for Ethiopia's action was its accusation that Eritrea was directly and indirectly helping the armed rebellion now engaged in large-scale fighting with the federal government. Eritrea denies the accusation, and has described the expulsion of its ambassador as "astounding". The Eritrean foreign ministry stated that Eritrea has no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. The diplomatic rupture marks a dramatic reversal from 2018, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed restored ties with Eritrea after two decades of hostility.
The conflict in Ethiopia has also brought a diplomatic rupture between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt. Ethiopia had already accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt on Sunday of supporting the offensive launched on 22 September. Eritrea denies the accusation, while Sudan and Egypt have denied any meddling. The dispute between the two countries goes back a very long way, with Asmara and Addis Ababa regularly trading insults for months.
The conflict has reached the capital, Addis Ababa, with explosions hitting the headquarters of the Ethiopian National Defence Force in western Addis Ababa earlier this week. The capital had never previously been targeted by military action, not even during the Tigray war. No link has been established between the blasts and the diplomatic rupture with Eritrea, but a diplomatic source considers the involvement of a rebel alliance known as the Coalition for Survival very likely.
The Coalition for Survival, formed in September, is an alliance of seven armed movements, including the TPLF, whose stated objective is to remove Abiy's government from power. Reports say federal forces and their allies appear to have made gains in southern Tigray and are advancing towards the regional capital, Mekelle. At least 52 civilians were killed during three days of intense fighting in the town of Alamata, a doctor told the BBC earlier this week.
The conflict has also spread to neighbouring Afar, which lies along Ethiopia's important transport corridor to Djibouti and the sea. Tens of thousands of people are estimated to have fled their homes there. Eritrean soldiers have been involved on the front lines, a pro-government militia commander fighting in Tigray told the BBC, which has not independently verified the claim. For now, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki is reportedly giving the rebels access through his country to the coast and the outside world.
The regional rivalries have added another layer to the conflict, with Sudan's own war having added another layer to the regional tensions. Sudan's army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for three years, with some Tigrayan forces fighting alongside it. Several diplomats told Reuters that Khartoum also hosted meetings that led to the creation of the new Ethiopian rebel alliance. The United Nations has warned that drone activity and air strikes are putting civilians, vital infrastructure, and aid operations at risk.
Key points
- Ethiopia has closed its embassy in Eritrea and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats, citing national security threats.
- The conflict has spread to neighbouring Afar and has strained relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt.
- The rebel alliance, formed in September, aims to remove Abiy's government from power.
