Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates

Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic ties due to escalating conflicts in the northern region of Ethiopia. The government ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within forty-eight hours, accusing them of activities that threaten national security. Eritrea responded by cutting diplomatic relations, citing Ethiopia's decision as the reason for its action.

The crisis follows a sharp deterioration in relations between the two nations, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of supporting a new rebel alliance. Eritrea has denied this allegation. The diplomatic fallout comes hours after powerful explosions were heard in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, near the military headquarters. The roots of the conflict trace back to a peace agreement that ended the Tigray war in 2022, which resulted in an estimated six hundred thousand casualties.

Since then, relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated, with the latest hostilities being the most serious since the peace agreement. The Ethiopian government and rebel forces accuse each other of starting the latest hostilities, with Tigrayan authorities claiming they were responding to federal offensive and drone strikes.

A coalition of armed movements, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front, Fano militia, and Oromo Liberation Army, has joined together to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government from power. The diplomatic crisis has also strained relations with Egypt, with both countries expelling embassy officials as a reciprocal measure.

The African Union Commission has expressed deep concern over the crisis and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve their disagreements peacefully.