Eritrea has severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa closed its embassy in Asmara, while a separate diplomatic dispute with Egypt deepens regional tensions.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Somali Report) — Eritrea has severed diplomatic relations with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa closed its embassy in Asmara and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country, adding a new dimension to growing tensions across the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in the Eritrean capital after accusing Asmara of engaging in what it described as hostile activities against the country. The Ethiopian government also declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata and gave them 48 hours to leave.
Eritrea responded by cutting diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, escalating a dispute between the two neighbours that had intensified in recent months. The two countries have yet to indicate whether diplomatic channels could be restored or whether further measures are being considered.
The breakdown comes as fighting has resumed in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, where federal forces and armed groups linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front have been engaged in renewed clashes.
Ethiopian authorities have accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting armed groups opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The three countries have rejected the accusations, raising concerns that the renewed fighting could draw neighbouring states into the conflict.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea had improved significantly after Abiy came to power in 2018. The two countries restored diplomatic relations following years of hostility and reopened their borders after the 1998-2000 border war.
Eritrean troops later fought alongside Ethiopian government forces during the Tigray war that began in 2020. However, relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara deteriorated again after the conflict ended, with disagreements emerging over security, regional influence and Ethiopia's interest in securing reliable access to the Red Sea.
At the same time, Ethiopia's relations with Egypt have entered another difficult phase. Addis Ababa expelled an Egyptian diplomat, prompting Cairo to respond by ordering an Ethiopian embassy counsellor to leave Egypt.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
The diplomatic dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia has been compounded by their long-running disagreement over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.
Egypt considers the Nile its principal source of fresh water and has repeatedly sought guarantees over how Ethiopia will operate the dam, particularly during periods of drought. Ethiopia, meanwhile, says the project is essential for its economic development and electricity generation.
The latest diplomatic exchanges come as Ethiopia faces renewed armed conflict and heightened regional tensions. Tigray borders Eritrea to the north and Sudan to the west, while Sudan has been fighting a devastating civil war since 2023.
The African Union has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise restraint and avoid steps that could further destabilise the region. The continental organisation has urged the countries to use dialogue and diplomatic channels to address their disputes.
The developments have increased concerns that Ethiopia's internal conflict could acquire a broader regional dimension, particularly as fighting in Tigray moves closer to Mekelle, the regional capital.
Residents in Mekelle have reported growing anxiety over the renewed fighting, with businesses and banks closing amid fears that clashes could reach the city.
The latest diplomatic crisis therefore comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the Horn of Africa, where disputes over borders, security, water resources and regional alliances are increasingly overlapping with Ethiopia's internal political and military challenges.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
Somalia condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, warns of regional security threat
