Ethiopia and Eritrea Sever Diplomatic Ties Amid Escalating Conflict
The Story
Ethiopia has announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours, accusing them of activities posing a direct threat to national security.
Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, calling the expulsion astounding and stating it had no option but to reciprocate in kind. This diplomatic rupture occurs as renewed fighting escalates in northern Ethiopia between federal forces and an alliance of armed groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Amhara Fano National Movement.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting this new anti-government alliance, an allegation Eritrea denies. The African Union Commission has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could destabilize the region, stressing the importance of diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue. Explosions were heard in Addis Ababa, including near the military headquarters.
The conflict marks the most serious hostilities since a peace agreement ended the Tigray war in 2022. Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat, prompting a reciprocal move from Egypt, with tensions already strained over Ethiopia's new Nile mega-dam.
The Spread
The coverage 29 sources
- Center-LeftAl JazeeraEthiopia, Eritrea break ties: Does the conflict risk becoming regional war? (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftDaily MaverickEritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa orders closure of embassy in Asmara (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftThe NamibianEthiopia fighting escalates in Tigray killing 52 civilians, medic tells the BBC (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterAnadolu AgencyEthiopia closes embassy in Eritrea, expels 10 Eritrean diplomats (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterAssociated PressEthiopia expels 10 Eritrean diplomats as tensions between neighbors escalate - apnews.com (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterBBC NewsEthiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterCourthouse News ServiceEthiopia Tigray rebels pushed back as regional tensions spike (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterDeutsche WelleEthiopia: Who could bring the warring sides to the negotiation table? (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterEFE (English)Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after closure of Ethiopian Embassy in Asmara - EFE - Agencia de noticias (opens the publisher’s site)
- CenterRFI EnglishEthiopia's new rebel war redraws alliances across the Horn of Africa (opens the publisher’s site)