Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties and expel diplomats

Ethiopia and Eritrea have officially cut diplomatic relations following an escalation of tensions and accusations of involvement in internal conflicts. Ethiopia has closed its embassy in Asmara and declared ten Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, prompting a reciprocal move from the Eritrean government.

Key details

• •According to Deutsche Welle, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours for allegedly threatening national security.
• •Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry described the expulsions as 'absurd' and announced it had no choice but to sever all diplomatic ties in a reciprocal move, as reported by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.
• •Ethiopia accused Eritrea of participating in renewed fighting in the Tigray region, while Eritrea denied allegations that it supports the 'Alliance for Survival' armed coalition, per Deutsche Welle.
• •Security sources cited by the Associated Press reported three explosions at Ethiopian military headquarters in Addis Ababa following a government drone ban, though the nature and origin of the blasts remain unconfirmed.
• •France 24 reported that both nations have accused one another of stoking internal conflicts as the primary driver for the diplomatic breakdown.

Background

The diplomatic ties between the two nations were previously restored in 2018, an event that led to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Relations have since deteriorated amid ongoing clashes along several fronts in northern Ethiopia, where hundreds have been killed or wounded in recent weeks.

Why it matters

The severing of ties marks a significant collapse in the rapprochement established six years ago. The status of ongoing security concerns remains uncertain, as reports of military activity in Addis Ababa have not been fully clarified by officials.