Ethiopia and Eritrea Sever Diplomatic Relations Amid Escalating Horn of Africa Tensions

On October 1, 2026, Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats on a 48-hour notice, accusing them of national security violations and alleging Eritrean hostility and support for armed opposition groups. Eritrea immediately responded by completely severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, rejecting the claims as unjustified and condemning Addis Ababa's hostile regional policies.

// Background

Ethiopia and Eritrea ended two decades of conflict with a landmark 2018 peace deal and subsequently fought as military allies against the TPLF during the 2020–2022 Tigray war. However, relations steadily deteriorated after Eritrea was excluded from the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement, exacerbated by disputes over regional security and Ethiopian demands for Red Sea access.

// Key Developments

• Ethiopia ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours and closed its embassy in Asmara over alleged national security breaches.
• Eritrea reciprocated the move on the same day by formally severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
• The diplomatic breakdown follows accusations by Ethiopian military leadership that Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt are backing armed opposition groups.
• The crisis coincides with renewed armed conflict across northern Ethiopia, including Tigray, Amhara, and Afar.
• The rupture marks a collapse of the bilateral rapprochement established between the two countries in 2018.