Ethiopia announced on Thursday that it was closing its embassy in the Eritrean capital and ordering ten Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours, citing national security threats. As a response, Eritrea severed diplomatic ties, describing the move as an act that left it with no choice but to reciprocate.
The diplomatic rift comes hours after explosions were heard in Addis Ababa near the national intelligence headquarters, a development that intensified tensions and raised concerns over a possible wider regionwide escalation. Ethiopia’s federal forces are currently engaged with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, its allies, and other armed groups across Tigray, Afar, and Amhara.
For years Ethiopia and Eritrea were allies during the 2020–22 Tigray war, but relations have soured as Ethiopia seeks direct access to the Red Sea and Eritrea worries about its own sovereignty. The two countries accuse each other of supporting the opposing side, a claim that each side denies.
Both sides blame the other for the latest escalation, with federal troops gaining ground in southern Tigray and moving toward Mekelle. At least 52 civilians were reported killed in Alamata during a three‑day battle, and thousands have fled the conflict‑affected areas.
The African Union, the United Nations and regional partners are urging all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions, warning that further escalation could unravel the fragile stability of the Horn of Africa and threaten humanitarian operations.
