Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic ties as renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region deepens tensions between the two neighbouring countries and raises fears that the conflict could spread across the Horn of Africa.
The diplomatic rupture began with Ethiopia’s decision to close its embassy in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, and expel 10 Eritrean diplomats from Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian government accused Eritrea of carrying out “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence” against Ethiopia and said the diplomats had been involved in activities that posed a threat to national security. They were given 48 hours to leave the country.
Eritrea responded hours later by announcing that it was cutting all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. Its Foreign Ministry said Ethiopia’s actions had left Eritrea with no choice but to reciprocate, describing the expulsion of its diplomats as the effective closure of its embassy in Addis Ababa.
The breakdown is a major reversal of the diplomatic thaw that began in 2018, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki moved to restore relations after years of hostility. Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Asmara as part of the rapprochement, which helped end a long period of confrontation between the two countries. Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 in recognition of his efforts to resolve the conflict with Eritrea. Relations later deteriorated again, particularly after the 2020-2022 war in Tigray.
The latest dispute comes as fighting has returned to northern Ethiopia. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, is leading an alliance of armed and political groups opposing Abiy’s government. Fighting that began in September has spread across parts of Tigray, Amhara and Afar, with government forces mounting a counteroffensive. Ethiopian forces and pro-government fighters have since made advances in Tigray, including the reported recapture of Alula Aba Nega Airport in the regional capital, Mekelle.
The renewed violence follows the breakdown of the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the two-year Tigray war between Ethiopia’s federal government and forces aligned with the TPLF. The latest fighting has not yet reached the scale of that earlier conflict, but the return of armed confrontation has already disrupted civilian life and raised concerns about another humanitarian crisis.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting the Tigray-led opposition alliance. Eritrea has repeatedly denied the allegation. The two countries fought on the same side against the TPLF during much of the 2020-2022 war, making the current confrontation a significant shift in their relationship. Eritrea was not a party to the 2022 peace agreement, and disagreements between Asmara and Addis Ababa have since intensified.
The diplomatic crisis was further complicated by reports of explosions in Addis Ababa, including an incident reported near the Ethiopian Ministry of Defence. Authorities had also imposed restrictions on drone flights over the capital and surrounding areas. Initial reports did not establish whether the explosions were linked to attacks or military activity, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding security conditions in the capital.
The fighting has already caused civilian casualties and disrupted essential services in parts of Tigray. Communications have been severely restricted, while residents have faced shortages and growing concerns about further displacement. Humanitarian organisations have reported an increase in wounded people as the latest fighting has intensified.
The conflict also carries risks beyond Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two countries share a long border, and the wider Horn of Africa is already dealing with conflicts and political tensions involving neighbouring Sudan and other regional powers. Analysts have warned that greater involvement by outside states could turn the fighting into a broader regional crisis.
The African Union has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and other countries involved in the escalating tensions to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions or statements that could further destabilise the region. The organisation has urged the countries to address their differences through diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.
For Ethiopia and Eritrea, the severing of diplomatic relations closes another chapter in a relationship that has shifted repeatedly between confrontation and reconciliation. With fighting continuing in northern Ethiopia and accusations of outside involvement increasing, the diplomatic rupture adds a new and potentially dangerous dimension to an already unstable conflict.
