Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates

Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as northern conflict intensifies

More than 50 people have been killed since heavy fighting resumed in northern Ethiopia last week

Ethiopia and Eritrea have broken off diplomatic relations as renewed violence in northern Ethiopia fuels concerns about a broader regional war.

On Thursday, Ethiopia said it was shutting its embassy in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, and gave 10 Eritrean diplomats 48 hours to leave the country, accusing them of actions that endangered national security.

Eritrea replied by ending diplomatic relations, saying Ethiopia’s move left it no alternative but to respond in kind.

The diplomatic standoff came just hours after loud explosions were reported overnight in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, including near the country’s military headquarters.

It follows a steep worsening in ties between the two neighbours, with Addis Ababa accusing Eritrea of backing an alliance of armed groups fighting the Ethiopian government — an allegation Asmara has repeatedly denied.

Ethiopia said it was expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats who "pose a direct threat to Ethiopia's national security" and would close its embassy in Asmara.

In reply, Eritrea said late on Thursday that it was cutting diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, calling Addis Ababa’s decision "astounding".

"Eritrea has no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia," its foreign ministry said, warning of "negative corollaries" from the move.

The diplomatic rupture comes as Ethiopian federal forces are fighting Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters and their allies across parts of Tigray, Afar and Amhara.

The current clashes are the most serious since a peace deal ended the devastating Tigray war in 2022. An African Union mediator had earlier estimated that around 600,000 people died in that two-year conflict.

Last month, the TPLF joined six other armed movements, including the Fano militia from Amhara, to create an alliance whose declared aim is to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government from power.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of aiding the alliance.

A pro-government militia commander fighting in Tigray also told the BBC that Eritrean soldiers had been on the front lines. The BBC has not independently verified the claim.

But in a rare interview with the BBC before diplomatic relations were cut, Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the accusations.

He told BBC Tigrinya that Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party was blaming neighbouring countries to distract from conflicts and other problems inside Ethiopia.

The two countries were allies during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, when Eritrean troops fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces against the TPLF.

Since then, relations have sharply worsened, especially over Ethiopia's push for direct access to the Red Sea. Asmara accuses Ethiopia of following what it calls an increasingly hostile policy toward the Red Sea.

Landlocked Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993.

Abiy has repeatedly said access to the sea is vital to Ethiopia's long-term economic and security interests, while Eritrea has accused his government of harbouring ambitions over its ports.

The latest diplomatic clash came hours after loud explosions were heard on Wednesday night in Addis Ababa, near the intelligence service headquarters.

A source linked to the opposition alliance told Reuters news agency that its forces had carried out drone attacks in the capital. Ethiopian authorities have not said what caused the explosions, and there have been no official reports of casualties or major damage.

Residents in two parts of Addis Ababa separately told the BBC that they heard powerful explosions during the night. One resident near the intelligence headquarters said the blast was loud enough to set off car alarms.

The explosions came hours after Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service imposed an indefinite ban on drone flights over Addis Ababa and nearby areas, citing the need to protect senior officials, key infrastructure and public events.

Meanwhile, fighting continues across northern Ethiopia.

Federal forces and their allies appear to have advanced in southern Tigray and are moving toward Mekelle, the regional capital. In Alamata, a doctor told the BBC earlier this week that at least 52 civilians had been killed during three days of intense fighting.

The TPLF has also been fighting in neighbouring Afar, which lies along Ethiopia's vital transport route to Djibouti and the sea. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have fled their homes there.

Both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF accuse each other of starting the latest fighting. Tigrayan authorities say their forces were responding to a federal offensive and drone strikes, while Addis Ababa says Tigrayan fighters launched attacks after seizing federally administered airports in Tigray.

Independent verification remains difficult because journalists have limited access to the conflict zones and communications across much of Tigray have been disrupted.

The African Union has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to show restraint and settle their disputes through diplomatic channels, warning against steps that could further destabilise the region.

The UN has also warned that the worsening security situation is severely disrupting humanitarian operations in northern Ethiopia. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said drone activity and air strikes were putting civilians, critical infrastructure and aid work at risk, while insecurity and road closures were limiting humanitarian movement.

The UN has called on all sides to ensure safe and unhindered access to people in need.