Ethiopia and Eritrea Sever Diplomatic Ties Amid Escalating Northern Conflict
On Thursday, Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties, each blaming the other for exacerbating internal strife amid ongoing fighting in northern Ethiopia. This breakdown in relations follows significant clashes that began last week between Ethiopian troops and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), heightening concerns of a resurgence of the civil war from 2020 to 2022, which resulted in around 600,000 fatalities. Ethiopia specifically accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF. Consequently, the Ethiopian government declared the expulsion of 10 Eritrean diplomats deemed a “direct threat to Ethiopia’s national security” and announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara. This situation represents a serious escalation in the longstanding discord between the two nations, raising fears of renewed large-scale conflict in the Tigray area.
Key facts
- Ethiopia and Eritrea broke diplomatic ties on Thursday.
- Each country accused the other of stoking internal conflicts.
- Heavy fighting broke out last week between Ethiopian forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
- The fighting raised fears of a return to the 2020–2022 civil war that killed an estimated 600,000 people.
- Ethiopia accused Eritrea of supporting the TPLF.
- Ethiopia is expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats who “pose a direct threat to Ethiopia’s national security”.
- Ethiopia will shut its embassy in Asmara.
- Tensions between the two African neighbours reached a crisis point.
Entities
Institutions
- Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)
Locations
- Ethiopia
- Eritrea
- Tigray
- Addis Ababa
- Asmara