Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties amid renewed regional fighting

Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties on Thursday as relations deteriorated amid renewed fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and an alliance of armed opposition groups.

Ethiopia said it would close its embassy in Asmara in response to Eritrea’s alleged “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence.” It also declared 10 Eritrean diplomats in Addis Ababa persona non grata, accusing them of activities that threatened Ethiopia’s national security and ordering them to leave within 48 hours.

Eritrea rejected the accusations as “absurd” and said the expulsions had effectively closed its embassy. Its Foreign Ministry announced that Eritrea would reciprocate and cut all diplomatic ties. Asmara accused Ethiopia of pursuing a hostile agenda and supporting Eritrean opposition groups, while Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing an armed coalition led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Eritrea has denied supporting the alliance.

The rupture came as heavy fighting continued in northern Ethiopia, including clashes in the Afar region. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed or wounded since the latest fighting began last week. The United Nations has called for de-escalation and talks.

Explosions were also reported in Addis Ababa on Wednesday and Thursday, including at or near the Ethiopian military headquarters. News agencies cited security and diplomatic sources, but the cause, responsibility and any casualties were not established.

The two countries had restored relations in 2018, reopening embassies after years of hostility. Eritrea later fought alongside Ethiopia’s federal government during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, but bilateral relations subsequently deteriorated.