Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic relations amid escalating violence in northern Ethiopia, with Addis Ababa ordering the closure of its embassy in Asmara and expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats within 48 hours, accusing them of threatening national security. Eritrea responded by cutting ties, calling Ethiopia’s move 'astounding' and vowing reciprocal action. The diplomatic rupture followed overnight explosions near Ethiopia’s military headquarters in Addis Ababa, intensifying fears of a regional conflict. Ethiopia’s government has long accused Eritrea of backing armed groups fighting its forces in Tigray, a claim Eritrea denies. The latest hostilities mark the most severe escalation since the 2022 peace agreement ended the Tigray war, which the African Union estimated killed 600,000 people.
The conflict’s resurgence comes as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and six other armed groups, including the Amhara-based Fano militia, have formed an alliance aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. Ethiopian authorities allege Eritrean support for the coalition, a claim Eritrea rejects. Meanwhile, tensions between the neighbors have worsened over Ethiopia’s push for direct access to the Red Sea, a key economic and security priority for landlocked Ethiopia. Eritrea has accused Addis Ababa of harboring ambitions over its ports, a dispute rooted in the 1993 independence of Eritrea, which left Ethiopia landlocked. The two nations were allies during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, with Eritrean troops fighting alongside Ethiopian forces against the TPLF, but relations have since deteriorated sharply.
Ethiopia’s decision to expel Eritrean diplomats and shut its embassy in Asmara followed a series of military clashes in Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions, where federal forces are battling the TPLF and its allies. A pro-government militia commander told the BBC that Eritrean soldiers had been involved in the fighting, though Eritrea has not confirmed this. The African Union mediator’s 2022 report highlighted the catastrophic toll of the Tigray war, with 600,000 deaths, and warned of ongoing humanitarian crises. As diplomatic ties collapse, analysts warn of heightened risks of regional instability, with both nations accused of fueling conflict through military and political maneuvers. The fallout underscores the fragile peace in the Horn of Africa, where historical grievances and strategic interests continue to shape volatile dynamics.
The severing of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea reflects deepening mistrust and competing geopolitical ambitions. While Ethiopia emphasizes its need for Red Sea access, Eritrea frames its concerns as defensive against what it calls Ethiopian aggression. The conflict’s escalation threatens to destabilize the region, with civilians bearing the brunt of violence and displacement. As both nations navigate this crisis, the international community faces mounting pressure to mediate and prevent further bloodshed, particularly as the TPLF alliance’s military gains raise questions about the sustainability of Abiy Ahmed’s government. The situation remains a critical test of regional cooperation in a historically turbulent corner of Africa.