- Ethiopia and Eritrea have officially cut diplomatic ties amid escalating tensions in the northern conflict.
- The African Union has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to refrain from actions that could undermine stability in the region.
- The African Union has called for maximum restraint from the involved nations to prevent further escalation of tensions.
- The Commission emphasized the need for the three countries to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and established diplomatic channels.
Eritrea has officially severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Ethiopia ordered the closure of its embassy in Asmara and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats, citing national security threats. Eritrea's foreign ministry described Ethiopia's actions as "astounding" and stated it had no choice but to reciprocate.1
The African Union has intervened, urging both nations to exercise restraint and engage in peaceful dialogue to prevent further escalation. The AU emphasized the importance of addressing differences through established diplomatic channels.24
This diplomatic rupture marks a significant reversal from the 2018 peace agreement that ended two decades of hostility, which had led to the reopening of borders and the reunion of families. The rapprochement was pivotal in earning Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
The current tensions are the most severe since the peace agreement concluded the Tigray war in 2022, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths. Last month, the TPLF allied with other armed groups to challenge Abiy's government, further complicating the situation. Eritrea's involvement in the Tigray conflict has been a point of contention, with Eritrean officials denying any military engagement despite reports of their soldiers on the front lines.
Eritrea's Information Minister accused Ethiopia's ruling party of deflecting blame onto neighboring countries to distract from internal issues.
“The African Union Commission's statement late Thursday calls on all three countries to address differences through established diplomatic channels, emphasizing the need to avoid actions that could undermine regional peace. The escalation follows heightened tensions in the northern region, with the AU urging maximum restraint to prevent further instability.”
BBC
