Ethiopia Closes Embassy in Eritrea as Diplomatic Tensions Deepen
Kabarsaji.com – Ethiopia has moved to close its embassy in Eritrea and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country, escalating a sharp deterioration in relations between the two neighboring states.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry announced the measures on Thursday, saying the embassy closure followed what it described as Eritrea’s “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia.” Addis Ababa also declared the 10 Eritrean officials persona non grata, giving them 48 hours to depart.
“In response to Eritrea’s direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia.”
Ethiopia said the diplomats were expelled because of alleged involvement in activities posing a direct threat to national security. The announcement did not publicly set out detailed evidence concerning the accusations.
A Reversal After the 2018 Rapprochement
The decision marks a dramatic reversal from the diplomatic opening that began in 2018. Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Eritrea during a period of rapprochement that helped bring an end to years of hostility between the countries. That breakthrough was closely associated with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have since become increasingly strained. Ethiopia’s latest statement indicates that the dispute has now reached a level where maintaining a diplomatic mission in Eritrea is no longer seen as viable by the Ethiopian government.
Embassy closures and diplomatic expulsions are among the clearest signals of a serious political rupture. They reduce the channels available for direct communication at a time when security pressures are already growing across northern Ethiopia.
Blast Reports in Addis Ababa
The diplomatic action came after reports of an overnight explosion at the Ethiopian National Defense Force headquarters in Addis Ababa. The blast was said to have occurred between midnight and 1:00 a.m. local time.
Diplomatic and security sources cited in accounts of the incident could not provide further details about the cause of the explosion, possible responsibility, or whether anyone had been killed or injured. Separate accounts referred to three blasts in the capital after the government prohibited drone use in Addis Ababa.
It remains uncertain whether the reported explosions were linked to an attack, connected to the new drone restriction, or formed part of military training activity. No confirmed public explanation established a connection between the blast reports and Ethiopia’s measures against Eritrean diplomats.
The lack of clarity surrounding the incidents adds to the tension. Security developments in the capital can carry significant political weight, particularly while government forces are confronting armed opponents on several fronts.
Fighting Across Northern Ethiopia
Eritrea has rejected allegations that it supports an armed alliance fighting Ethiopian government forces. The coalition, known as the Alliance for Survival, includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the Amhara Fano National Movement, and the Oromo Liberation Army.
Heavy fighting resumed in northern Ethiopia last week, with hundreds of people killed or wounded. Clashes have continued across multiple fronts, underscoring the scale of the conflict and the difficulty of containing it through military action alone.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been a central actor in Ethiopia’s recent conflicts, while armed movements in Amhara and Oromia have added further pressure to the federal government. The emergence of an alliance among these groups has intensified concerns about a broader and more coordinated challenge to state security.
The United Nations has called for the fighting to be de-escalated and for negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the newly formed alliance. Such appeals highlight the concern that continued combat could increase civilian suffering and further destabilize an already fragile regional environment.
What the Diplomatic Break Means
Ethiopia and Eritrea share a long, politically sensitive border and a history shaped by conflict as well as brief periods of cooperation. For that reason, a breakdown in formal diplomatic engagement carries implications beyond the immediate dispute over the expelled officials.
Closing an embassy does not necessarily mean that all communication between governments has ended, but it removes an important permanent channel for dealing with security concerns, citizens’ issues, and bilateral disagreements. It may also make efforts to reduce mistrust more difficult while armed conflict remains active in Ethiopia.
The 48-hour deadline for the Eritrean diplomats places the dispute on an immediate timetable. Attention will now focus on whether Eritrea responds with comparable measures, whether either government offers more information about the accusations, and whether the wider conflict in northern Ethiopia moves toward renewed diplomacy or deeper confrontation.
For residents of the region, the central concern remains the human cost of prolonged instability. With fighting continuing and diplomatic ties worsening, calls for restraint and dialogue face a more difficult test.
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