Ethiopia and Eritrea have officially severed diplomatic relations, escalating a tense political crisis as a fresh wave of violence spreads through northern Ethiopia. The breakdown follows a sudden surge in fighting that has reportedly claimed more than 50 lives over the past week.
The diplomatic rupture began when the Ethiopian government ordered the closure of its embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital. Addis Ababa also gave 10 Eritrean diplomatic personnel a 48-hour deadline to depart the country, claiming they were engaging in actions that endangered national security.
In a swift countermeasure, Eritrea announced the total suspension of bilateral ties late Thursday. The Eritrean foreign ministry characterized the expulsion order as extraordinary and stated that the government was left with no alternative but to respond in kind, while also warning of potential regional consequences.
This diplomatic crisis unfolded shortly after loud blasts rattled the Ethiopian capital during the night. Residents reported hearing powerful explosions close to the nation's military and intelligence command centers in Addis Ababa. Authorities in Ethiopia have not yet issued an official explanation regarding the source of the explosions, and immediate details concerning casualties or property damage remain unavailable.
The friction between the two governments stems from a severe breakdown in relations following a fragile peace that ended a major regional war in 2022. That previous two-year conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Currently, federal forces are engaged in renewed combat against the Tigray People's Liberation Front and allied armed factions across the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions.
Tensions have mounted significantly due to allegations from Addis Ababa that Asmara is backing a newly formed coalition of rebel movements dedicated to unseating the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Furthermore, local commanders have alleged direct military participation by Eritrean troops on the front lines, though Eritrean officials have strongly denied any involvement.
Eritrean authorities have rejected the accusations, suggesting that the governing party in Ethiopia is attempting to shift blame for domestic instability. At the same time, geopolitical friction has intensified over Ethiopia's persistent strategic push to secure sovereign access to the Red Sea, a demand that Asmara views with deep suspicion and hostility.
The two neighboring nations previously fought side by side during the initial Tigray conflict before their partnership unraveled. With formal diplomatic channels now closed and armed clashes expanding across the north, international observers express mounting concern over the potential for a wider destabilization of the Horn of Africa.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
