Eritrea severs ties with Ethiopia amid African Union calls for restraint
African Union Demands Restraint as Regional Ties Collapse
The African Union Commission has formally urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint following a rapid breakdown in diplomatic relations. The regional body is calling for the three countries to address their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue to prevent further destabilization across the Horn of Africa.
Embassy Closures and Expulsions Ignite Tensions
The current crisis follows a series of reciprocal expulsions between the three nations. On Thursday, Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara, declaring 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence” as the primary justification for the decision. The expelled Eritrean personnel included the charge d’affaires and others accredited to the African Union, with Addis Ababa accusing them of involvement in activities that threatened national security.
Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. In a statement issued on the social media platform X, the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the nation had “no option but to reciprocate in kind,” warning that the move would carry “negative corollaries”.
The diplomatic fallout extends to Cairo. Ethiopia simultaneously declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata, ordering a departure within 48 hours. Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News confirmed that Cairo responded by expelling an Ethiopian embassy counsellor on the same timeline.
Resurgent Warfare Across Northern Ethiopia
The diplomatic collapse coincides with a surge in violence within Ethiopia. Federal forces are currently engaged in fighting against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allied groups across the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions. More than 50 people have been reported killed since the resumption of hostilities last week. Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance led by the TPLF.
Reports from the ground remain fragmented. While Tigrayan authorities claim their actions are a response to federal drone strikes and military offensives, the Ethiopian government maintains that the TPLF launched attacks after seizing control of federally administered airports. The chief administrator of the Afar region, Haji Awol Arba, told Al Jazeera that Eritrean soldiers had crossed the border to support the ongoing offensive, an allegation that Eritrea’s Information Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, has denied.
Diplomatic Ties Deteriorate After 2018 Breakthrough
The current hostilities represent a stark departure from the 2018 diplomatic breakthrough between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. However, ties have been historically fragile since Eritrea secured independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following an armed struggle led by President Isaias.
Eritrea fought alongside the Ethiopian government during the Tigray war, but was not a party to the November 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement that ended the fighting. Relations between the two neighbors have since deteriorated rapidly. Tensions have been further compounded by Prime Minister Abiy’s stated ambitions to seek direct sea access for landlocked Ethiopia.
African Union Warns of Wider Conflict Risks
The African Union’s intervention highlights the urgency of the situation, as the continent faces the potential for a wider conflict reminiscent of the 2020–2022 civil war, during which an African Union mediator estimated that about 600,000 people had died.
With communication lines in affected areas like Tigray reportedly cut, the full scale of the current movement remains difficult to verify. As regional tensions continue to mount, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 28, 2026, amid the unfolding diplomatic crisis.