Eritrea severs diplomatic relations with Ethiopia

Western media reported on Thursday about Asmara’s decision. It followed after Addis Ababa ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata.

At Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eritrea was accused of “direct and indirect hostile actions and militancy”. It was previously reported that sounds of explosions were heard in Ethiopia’s capital. According to several media outlets, Addis Ababa came under a drone attack.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war of independence, and Ethiopia then lost access to the sea. In 1998–2000, the countries also went to war.

In 2018, after Abiy Ahmed came to power, Ethiopia and Eritrea normalized relations: they signed a peace treaty and resumed diplomatic and transport ties. In 2020–2022, Eritrean troops supported Ethiopia’s federal forces in the conflict in the Tigray region with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). In 2022, the sides signed an agreement to end hostilities in Pretoria, but then hardliners prevailed within the TPLF and took control of the regional authorities. After that, tensions between the sides grew for months, and they mutually accused each other of violating the peace agreement.

Sources

• Interfax