Ethiopia, Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as Tigray fighting escalates
Ethiopia and Eritrea have ended diplomatic relations amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, raising concerns that the escalating tensions could develop into a broader regional conflict.
Ethiopia announced on Thursday that it was shutting down its embassy in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, and had ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. Ethiopian authorities accused the diplomats of engaging in activities they considered a threat to national security.
Eritrea responded by severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, saying Addis Ababa’s decision left it with no option but to take a reciprocal measure.
The diplomatic crisis comes as fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia. A pro-government militia has claimed that it captured Milazat, a town located about 20km southeast of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray and a stronghold of the main anti-government group. The claim has not been independently verified.
The diplomatic fallout followed several powerful explosions reported overnight in Addis Ababa, including in the vicinity of Ethiopia’s military headquarters.
The developments come against the backdrop of rapidly deteriorating relations between the two neighbours. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing a newly formed rebel alliance, an allegation the Eritrean government has repeatedly rejected.
Eritrea described Ethiopia’s decision to expel its ambassador as “astounding” and said it had been compelled to respond in kind by cutting diplomatic relations. Its Foreign Ministry also warned of possible negative consequences arising from the move.
At the same time, Ethiopian federal forces are engaged in fighting against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allied groups in parts of Tigray, Afar and Amhara.
Ethiopia has also ordered an Egyptian diplomat to leave the country within 48 hours, according to state media, although authorities have not publicly explained the reason. Egypt subsequently ordered an Ethiopian embassy official to leave within the same timeframe, state-affiliated Al Qahera News reported.
Relations between Egypt and Ethiopia have been strained for years, particularly over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. Egypt, which depends heavily on the Nile for its water needs, has expressed concerns about the dam’s potential effect on its access to the river.
The latest breakdown in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea represents a major reversal of the rapprochement achieved in 2018, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed restored ties with Asmara after two decades of hostility. The reopening of the border led to emotional reunions between families separated for years and helped contribute to Abiy receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
The current fighting is the most serious escalation since the devastating Tigray war ended with a peace agreement in 2022. An African Union mediator previously estimated that around 600,000 people died during the two-year conflict.
In the latest development, the TPLF has joined six other armed groups, including the Fano militia from Amhara, to form an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government from power.
A commander of a pro-government militia involved in the fighting in Tigray told the BBC that Eritrean troops were participating on the front lines. The allegation has not been independently verified.
Reporting from Tigray remains severely restricted, with internet and telephone services cut off and journalists unable to access the region. The circumstances surrounding the communications blackout remain unclear.
Before diplomatic relations were severed, Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel denied allegations that his country was involved in the renewed fighting in Tigray. Speaking to BBC Tigrinya, he accused Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party of blaming neighbouring countries in an attempt to divert attention from internal conflicts and other challenges.
Ethiopia and Eritrea were allies during the 2020–2022 Tigray war, when Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops against the TPLF.
Relations have since deteriorated, particularly over Ethiopia’s efforts to secure direct access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia became landlocked after Eritrea gained independence in 1993.
Prime Minister Abiy has repeatedly argued that reliable access to the sea is important to Ethiopia’s long-term economic and security interests. Eritrea, however, has accused Ethiopia of harbouring ambitions to gain control or influence over its ports.
Federal forces and allied fighters appear to have made advances in southern Tigray and are moving towards Mekelle. In Alamata, a doctor told the BBC that at least 52 civilians had been killed during three days of heavy fighting earlier in the week.
The TPLF has also been involved in fighting in neighbouring Afar, a region situated along Ethiopia’s key transport route to Djibouti and the Red Sea. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been displaced from their homes.
Both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF have accused each other of initiating the latest clashes. Tigrayan authorities say their forces were responding to a federal offensive and drone strikes, while Addis Ababa maintains that Tigrayan fighters launched attacks after taking control of airports administered by the federal government.
The African Union has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise restraint and settle their differences through diplomatic means, warning that further escalation could destabilise the wider region.
The United Nations has also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation and its impact on humanitarian operations in northern Ethiopia. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said drone activity and air strikes were placing civilians, critical infrastructure and aid operations at risk, while insecurity and road closures were restricting the movement of humanitarian workers.
The UN has urged all parties to ensure safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to communities in need.
Source: BBC
About The Author
