Ethiopia, Eritrea Sever Ties Amid Escalating Northern Conflict
Accusations of aiding rebel groups and drone attacks in the capital mark a diplomatic breakdown between the two East African neighbors.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have cut diplomatic relations as renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia escalates, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict. The move follows accusations from Ethiopia that Eritrea is supporting an alliance of armed groups fighting the Ethiopian government.
Ethiopia announced Thursday it was closing its embassy in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours, citing activities that threatened national security. Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, calling Addis Ababa's decision "astounding" and stating it had no choice but to reciprocate.
The diplomatic confrontation coincided with powerful explosions heard overnight in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, including near the country's military headquarters. A source linked to an opposition alliance told Reuters its forces had carried out drone attacks in the capital, though Ethiopian authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of the explosions. Residents in Addis Ababa reported hearing loud blasts.
These events follow a sharp deterioration in relations between the neighboring countries. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting an alliance of six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from Amhara, which aims to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. In a recent interview, Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected these accusations, suggesting Ethiopia was blaming neighbors to deflect from internal conflicts.
Ethiopia and Eritrea were allies during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, where Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Relations soured significantly afterward, particularly concerning Ethiopia's pursuit of direct access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has stated access to the sea is vital for Ethiopia's economic and security interests, while Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of harboring ambitions over its ports.
The current hostilities are the most severe since a peace agreement ended the Tigray war in 2022, a conflict estimated to have caused around 600,000 deaths. Fighting is ongoing across northern Ethiopia, with federal forces and their allies reportedly making advances in southern Tigray and moving toward the regional capital, Mekelle. Reports from the area indicate significant civilian casualties.
Fighting has also impacted the Afar region, a crucial transport corridor to Djibouti and the sea. Tens of thousands have been displaced. Both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF accuse each other of initiating the latest round of hostilities. The TPLF claims its forces were responding to a federal offensive, while Addis Ababa states Tigrayan fighters attacked federally controlled airports.
Independent verification of events remains challenging due to limited media access and disrupted communications in Tigray. The African Union has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions. The United Nations has warned that the escalating insecurity is hindering humanitarian efforts in northern Ethiopia, with drone activity and air strikes posing risks to civilians and aid operations. The UN has called for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.