Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have boiled over into a full diplomatic rupture, as fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia and raises fears of a wider regional war. On Thursday, Addis Ababa announced it was shutting its embassy in Asmara, Eritrea’s capital, and gave ten Eritrean diplomats 48 hours to leave the country, accusing them of threatening Ethiopia’s national security.
Eritrea fired back hours later, calling the move “astounding” and severing diplomatic relations in response, warning of serious consequences to come.
The standoff erupted just hours after loud explosions rattled Addis Ababa overnight, some near Ethiopia’s military and intelligence headquarters. Authorities haven’t confirmed the cause, though a source tied to an opposition alliance told Reuters its forces had launched drone strikes on the capital.
Ethiopian federal troops are currently battling the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allied fighters across the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions—the most serious violence since a 2022 peace deal ended a two-year civil war that an African Union mediator estimated killed roughly 600,000 people. More than 50 people have reportedly died since fighting resumed last week.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing a newly formed rebel coalition seeking to oust Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a charge Eritrean officials deny, suggesting Ethiopia’s government is deflecting from internal troubles. The former allies, who fought together against the TPLF in 2020-2022, have since clashed over Ethiopia’s push for Red Sea access, which it lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993.
For the full story, visit the BBC’s original report.
Source: Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
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