Ethiopia Eritrea ties have collapsed as renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia raises concerns about a wider regional conflict. Ethiopia announced on Thursday that it was closing its embassy in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, and ordering 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
Ethiopia accused the diplomats of activities that posed a threat to its national security. Eritrea responded by severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, saying Addis Ababa’s decision left it with no choice but to take reciprocal action.
The diplomatic breakdown came only hours after powerful explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa, including in areas close to Ethiopia’s military and intelligence headquarters. Ethiopian authorities have not confirmed what caused the blasts or reported significant casualties or damage.
Ethiopia Eritrea Diplomatic Relations Break Down
Ethiopia said the 10 Eritrean diplomats being expelled “pose a direct threat to Ethiopia’s national security”. It also announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara as relations between the neighbouring countries deteriorated further.
Eritrea later announced that it was severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, describing the decision by Addis Ababa as “astounding”.
“Eritrea has no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia,” Eritrea’s foreign ministry said, warning of “negative corollaries” from the decision.
The diplomatic confrontation follows growing tensions over allegations that Eritrea is supporting an alliance of armed groups fighting the Ethiopian government. Addis Ababa has made the accusation repeatedly, while Eritrea has denied involvement.
The two countries were allies during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, when Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF. Their relationship has since deteriorated considerably.
Tigray Conflict Raises Regional Concerns
The latest fighting is the most serious since the peace agreement that ended the devastating Tigray conflict in 2022. An African Union mediator previously estimated that about 600,000 people died during the two-year war.
Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from the Amhara region, to establish an alliance seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government from power.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of assisting the alliance. A pro-government militia commander involved in fighting in Tigray also told the BBC that Eritrean soldiers had been present on front lines, although the BBC said it had not independently verified the allegation.
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the accusations in a rare BBC interview before diplomatic relations were severed. He said Ethiopia’s governing Prosperity Party was blaming neighbouring countries to divert attention from conflicts and other problems inside Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, federal forces and their allies appear to have made gains in southern Tigray and are advancing towards the regional capital, Mekelle. In Alamata, a doctor told the BBC earlier in the week that at least 52 civilians had been killed during three days of intense fighting.
Red Sea Access Fuels Ethiopia Eritrea Tensions
A major source of tension between the neighbours is Ethiopia’s push for access to the Red Sea. Landlocked Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea became independent in 1993, and Prime Minister Abiy has repeatedly argued that access to the sea is important to the country’s long-term economic and security interests.
Eritrea, however, has accused Ethiopia of pursuing an increasingly hostile policy towards the Red Sea and has expressed concern over what it describes as ambitions involving Eritrean ports.
The dispute adds another layer to already strained Ethiopia Eritrea ties, with the two governments now also facing renewed military confrontation involving armed groups across northern Ethiopia.
Fighting has spread across parts of Tigray, Afar and Amhara. The TPLF has also been fighting in neighbouring Afar, a strategically important region containing Ethiopia’s key transport corridor towards Djibouti and the sea.
Tens of thousands of people are estimated to have fled their homes in Afar as fighting continues.
Addis Ababa Explosions Add to Security Concerns
The diplomatic crisis followed explosions heard across parts of Addis Ababa on Wednesday night. A source linked to the opposition alliance told Reuters that its forces had carried out drone attacks in the capital, but Ethiopian authorities have not confirmed the claim.
Residents in two separate parts of Addis Ababa told the BBC they heard powerful explosions. One resident near the intelligence headquarters said the blast was strong enough to trigger car alarms.
The explosions occurred hours after Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service announced an indefinite ban on drone flights over Addis Ababa and surrounding areas. Officials cited the need to protect senior government officials, important infrastructure and public events.
Both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF accuse the other of starting the latest fighting. Tigrayan authorities say their forces responded to a federal offensive and drone strikes, while Addis Ababa says Tigrayan fighters launched attacks after taking control of federally administered airports in Tigray.
Independent verification remains difficult because journalists have limited access to conflict areas and communications have been disrupted across much of Tigray.
Ethiopia Eritrea Crisis Draws International Warning
The African Union has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through diplomatic channels. It warned that further escalation could destabilise the wider region.
The United Nations has also warned that worsening insecurity is severely disrupting humanitarian operations in northern Ethiopia. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said drone activity and air strikes were putting civilians, vital infrastructure and aid operations at risk.
Insecurity and road closures are also restricting humanitarian movements, according to the UN. The organisation has called on all sides to guarantee safe and unhindered access to people who need assistance.
With diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea now severed and fighting continuing across northern Ethiopia, regional and international organisations face growing pressure to prevent further escalation.
