Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on October 1, 2026, that the country had ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea. The ministry also declared 10 Eritrean diplomats in Addis Ababa persona non grata and gave them 48 hours to leave the country. This decision was made in response to what Ethiopia described as Eritrea's "direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence" against Ethiopia.
The 10 Eritrean diplomats were accused of involvement in activities that posed a direct threat to Ethiopia's national security. The ministry stated that their activities were also in breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. However, Ethiopia did not publicly provide details of the specific activities attributed to the diplomats. The move came as relations between the two neighboring countries were already under severe strain amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups fighting the Ethiopian government, an allegation Eritrea has rejected. Despite announcing the diplomatic measures, Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said it continued to value the historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two countries. The ministry reaffirmed its stated commitment to peaceful coexistence, regional stability, and integration.
The Eritrean government responded to Ethiopia's expulsion of its diplomats by severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. Eritrea rejected Ethiopia's allegations of hostile activities and accused the Ethiopian government of pursuing its own hostile agenda. The breakdown in relations comes as fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and armed opposition groups has intensified in northern Ethiopia.
The renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia represents the most serious fighting in the country since the 2020-2022 civil war. The African Union Commission has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea, and other involved countries to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue. The closure of Ethiopia's embassy in Asmara and Eritrea's subsequent decision to sever diplomatic ties mark a significant deterioration in relations between the two countries.
The two neighboring countries had restored diplomatic relations in 2018 after years of hostility following their 1998-2000 war. The latest developments now leave the two neighbors without normal diplomatic relations as fighting continues in northern Ethiopia. Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry called on the Eritrean government to stop what Ethiopia described as actions contrary to the principles governing relations between sovereign states.
The diplomatic dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea has escalated significantly, with both countries taking firm stances. Ethiopia remains committed to resolving disputes peacefully and working with countries across the Horn of Africa to promote peace, security, and regional integration. The situation remains tense, with ongoing fighting and a severe strain on diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Key points
- Ethiopia orders closure of Eritrea embassy, declares 10 diplomats persona non grata
- Eritrea severs diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in response to expulsion of diplomats
- Fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia amid diplomatic dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea
