Eritrea announced that it has severed diplomatic relations with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa closed the Eritrean embassy and ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
On Thursday, Ethiopia announced the closure of the Eritrean embassy, accusing the neighboring country of engaging in what it described as hostile actions. Eritrea rejected that decision and stated that it was taking a reciprocal step by severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The decision came hours after explosions were heard in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital and headquarters of the African Union. Sources linked to an Ethiopian opposition coalition claimed to have carried out drone attacks in the city, including an attempt to target a military facility. However, reports regarding the explosions and the alleged targets have not been independently verified.
The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan of supporting an alliance that includes members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). All three countries have denied these allegations. The tension also led to Ethiopia and Egypt each expelling a diplomat from the other country.
The situation has sparked concern in the Horn of Africa, particularly as fresh fighting has erupted in northern Ethiopia. If drone strikes are confirmed to have reached Addis Ababa, it could indicate that the threat—previously confined to the country’s north—has reached Ethiopia’s political center.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea were restored in 2018, following years of hostility and tension between the two nations. The mutual understanding reached by both sides played a pivotal role in the peace agreement of that time—a deal that contributed to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, relations between the two countries deteriorated again following the 2022 peace agreement that ended the Tigray war—a deal in which Eritrea was not a participant. Ethiopia’s desire to secure access to the Red Sea has also become another factor exacerbating the dispute. Eritrea is concerned that Ethiopia might use force to seize control of the port of Assab, while Addis Ababa has stated that the maritime route is vital to the country’s economy and security.
