Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic ties after a rapid exchange of accusations, embassy closures and diplomat expulsions raised fears of renewed conflict in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia said it would close its embassy in Asmara and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave. Eritrea then announced it was cutting all diplomatic relations.
Mutual accusations
Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of hostile actions and of supporting armed opposition groups. Eritrea rejected the allegations and accused Ethiopia of pursuing an agenda of hostility, including claims related to Eritrean opposition groups and access to the Red Sea. Both governments have presented their actions as responses to the other’s conduct.
A fragile regional backdrop
The diplomatic break comes as fighting and political tensions persist in Ethiopia’s northern regions. The two countries fought a devastating border war from 1998 to 2000, later joined forces during Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 conflict in Tigray, and have since returned to antagonism. Ethiopia’s interest in securing reliable access to the Red Sea has added to regional concern.
A breakdown in relations does not itself mean war is imminent, but it reduces channels for communication when accusations and security fears are rising. Regional governments and diplomats face pressure to encourage restraint and prevent the dispute from widening. The reasons each government gives for its actions remain contested.
