Ethiopia: Embassy Shut in Eritrea, 10 Diplomats Expelled

Ethiopia Closes Embassy in Eritrea as Tensions Sharply Escalate

Tempatdonasi.com – Ethiopia has moved to close its embassy in Eritrea and ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, marking a serious deterioration in relations between the neighboring states.

Addis Ababa said the embassy closure followed what it described as Eritrea’s hostile and belligerent actions against Ethiopia. The government also said the Eritrean diplomats had engaged in activities that posed a direct threat to Ethiopian national security.

“In response to Eritrea’s direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia.”

The decision reverses a major diplomatic opening that began in 2018, when Ethiopia and Eritrea restored relations after years of hostility. Ethiopia’s embassy in Eritrea reopened during that period of rapprochement, which was closely linked to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Nobel Peace Prize recognition.

Diplomatic Break Comes Amid Security Concerns

The measures were announced after reports of explosions at the Ethiopian National Defense Force headquarters in Addis Ababa overnight. The blasts were said to have occurred between midnight and 1 a.m. local time.

Details surrounding the incident remained unclear. Diplomatic and security sources were unable to establish the cause of the explosion, identify anyone responsible, or confirm whether there were casualties.

Security sources also indicated that three blasts had taken place after authorities imposed a ban on drone use in the capital. It was not immediately known whether the explosions were linked to an attack, a security incident, or military training activity.

The reported explosions added to an already tense atmosphere in Addis Ababa, where the government is confronting armed opposition groups while managing growing regional uncertainty. The embassy closure and expulsions signal that Ethiopia now views its relationship with Eritrea through an increasingly urgent security lens.

Eritrea Rejects Claims of Support for Armed Alliance

Eritrea has rejected accusations that it is backing an armed coalition fighting Ethiopian government forces. The grouping, known as the Alliance for Survival, includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the Amhara Fano National Movement, and the Oromo Liberation Army.

The alliance brings together forces that have separately clashed with the Ethiopian government in different parts of the country. Its emergence has added another layer of complexity to an already volatile conflict landscape, particularly in northern Ethiopia.

Heavy fighting resumed last week, leaving hundreds of people dead or injured. Clashes have continued across several fronts, underlining the risk that localized confrontations could develop into a broader and more sustained conflict.

For residents in affected areas, the consequences extend beyond military developments. Renewed violence can disrupt travel, trade, communication, public services, and access to humanitarian assistance. It also creates fresh uncertainty for communities that have already endured repeated periods of instability.

A Fragile Peace Process Under Pressure

The diplomatic rupture is especially significant because Ethiopia and Eritrea had previously taken visible steps toward ending a long-running dispute. Their 2018 reconciliation raised hopes that the Horn of Africa could move away from decades of confrontation and toward greater regional cooperation.

That period of optimism has since been tested by shifting political alliances, internal conflict in Ethiopia, and unresolved security concerns. Closing an embassy is not simply an administrative measure; it removes an important channel for direct communication at a time when tensions are already high.

The expulsion of ten diplomats further narrows the space for routine diplomatic engagement. Such action generally reflects a breakdown in trust and may complicate efforts to clarify security allegations or prevent misunderstandings from escalating.

The United Nations has urged all sides to reduce tensions and pursue dialogue between the Ethiopian government and the recently formed armed alliance. Calls for de-escalation come as the risk of further civilian harm remains a central concern.

Whether the latest dispute with Eritrea will remain confined to diplomatic measures or lead to wider regional consequences remains uncertain. What is clear is that Ethiopia’s decision has brought renewed attention to the fragile state of security and political relations in the Horn of Africa.