Ethiopia to Close Embassy in Asmara, Expel 10 Eritrean Diplomats as Tensions Deepen

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia has ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours and announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara, sharply escalating tensions between the two neighbours amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the diplomats had been involved in activities it described as posing a direct threat to the country's national security.

The ministry said the decision to expel the diplomats and close the embassy was linked to what it called direct and indirect actions by Eritrea against Ethiopia. It did not provide detailed evidence for the allegations in its statement.

The diplomats were given 48 hours to leave Ethiopia, with the government saying their activities were inconsistent with international diplomatic norms and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Addis Ababa also called on Eritrea to halt what it described as actions that violate principles governing relations between sovereign states.

The announcement comes as fighting has intensified in northern Ethiopia, particularly in and around the Tigray region. Ethiopian government forces and allied groups have been engaged in renewed clashes with Tigrayan forces and other armed groups.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea and other neighbouring countries of supporting forces opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Eritrea has rejected accusations of involvement in Ethiopia's internal conflict.

Reuters reported on Thursday that explosions had been heard overnight in Addis Ababa after renewed fighting in the north. The report said Ethiopia's government had also accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting an opposition alliance, allegations the three countries have denied.

The latest escalation has raised concerns that the conflict could widen beyond Ethiopia's northern regions and further strain relations with Eritrea. The two countries fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 before restoring diplomatic ties in 2018.

The relationship has since deteriorated again amid disputes over security, territory and Ethiopia's ambitions for access to the Red Sea. British government travel advice currently warns that tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea are high and that the situation could change rapidly.

Despite the diplomatic measures, Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said it continued to recognise the historical, cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The ministry said Addis Ababa remained committed to peaceful coexistence, regional stability and greater integration in the Horn of Africa.

It also said Ethiopia wanted disputes to be resolved through peaceful means and would continue working with countries in the region to promote lasting peace, security and regional cooperation.

The closure of the embassy and expulsion of Eritrean diplomats represent a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations at a time when fighting along and near Ethiopia's northern borders has intensified.

Ethiopia has previously called on Eritrea to withdraw forces from Ethiopian territory, while maintaining that it is open to negotiations on broader issues between the two countries.

The developments are likely to increase scrutiny of the security situation along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, where international authorities have already warned of the possibility of further armed conflict.

GAROWE ONLINE