Africa
Eritrea cuts diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after envoys expelled
October 1, 2026 (ADDIS ABABA) – Eritrea severed all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia on Thursday, triggering a major regional crisis after Addis Ababa ordered the closure of its embassy in Asmara and expelled senior Eritrean diplomats.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, including the charge d’affaires and envoys accredited to the African Union, giving them 48 hours to leave the country.
Addis Ababa accused the diplomats of activities that posed a direct threat to national security, citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Authorities said the expulsions followed direct and indirect acts of hostility by Asmara.
Ethiopia added that it valued historical ties with the Eritrean people and remained committed to regional stability and peaceful coexistence.
Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations hours later, calling Ethiopia’s actions unwarranted and confirming a complete break in bilateral ties.
Asmara accused the Ethiopian government of maintaining a de facto declaration of war for three years. It said Ethiopia sought to seize sovereign Eritrean ports and coastal areas to secure maritime access, while arming and hosting proxy rebel groups seeking regime change.
The diplomatic collapse comes as Ethiopia faces deepening friction with other neighbours across the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia on Thursday also expelled an Egyptian diplomat, Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman, giving him 48 hours to depart. A diplomatic note delivered to the Egyptian embassy cited the Vienna Convention but did not detail the reasons for the expulsion.
Cairo, a few hours later, declared an Ethiopian diplomat persona non grata and ordered his departure within 48 hours.
Relations between Addis Ababa and Khartoum have also sharply deteriorated. Sudan has accused Ethiopia of hosting military training camps and providing drone and logistical support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fighting the Sudanese army.
Sudan’s military on Sunday denied allegations by Ethiopian army chief Field Marshal Birhanu Jula that Khartoum, Egypt, and other regional actors were arming the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and other opposition factions, dismissing the claims as baseless and urging Ethiopia to pursue dialogue through official diplomatic channels.