Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours on Thursday, citing activities that posed a threat to national security. Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties, describing Ethiopia’s action as unexpected and warning of serious consequences from the decision.
The diplomatic rupture follows a dramatic deterioration in bilateral relations, with Ethiopian authorities accusing Eritrea of providing military backing to a newly formed rebel coalition. Asmara has consistently denied involvement in the fighting. The severance of ties represents a stark reversal from 2018, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed restored diplomatic relations with Eritrea after two decades of estrangement, an achievement that contributed to his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
The diplomatic crisis coincides with intensifying military operations in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front and allied armed movements, including the Fano militia, formed an alliance last month with the stated goal of removing the current government. Military sources claim Eritrean soldiers have engaged directly in combat, though these allegations remain unverified. The current violence marks the most significant escalation since a 2022 peace agreement concluded a devastating two-year conflict that resulted in approximately 600,000 deaths.
The two nations were allied during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict, when Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops against the TPLF. However, tensions have grown substantially since then, particularly regarding Ethiopia’s pursuit of direct Red Sea access. Ethiopia lost its coastline following Eritrea’s independence in 1993. The African Union has called for restraint among all parties and urged resolution through diplomatic means, while the United Nations has expressed alarm over the humanitarian crisis and disruption to aid operations caused by the escalating conflict.
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