Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in tit-for-tat move

Key Points:

• Eritrea has announced it is severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia following Ethiopia's expulsion of Eritrean diplomats from Addis Ababa amid escalating conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and armed opposition groups.
• Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, accusing them of threatening national security, while Eritrea denied involvement in hostile activities and accused Ethiopia of pursuing hostility and supporting Eritrean opposition groups.
• The conflict has intensified with clashes in Addis Ababa and the northern Afar region, where Eritrean soldiers reportedly joined opposition forces, marking the largest escalation since the 2020-2022 civil war.
• Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat, leading Egypt to reciprocate by expelling an Ethiopian diplomat, as Ethiopia accuses Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of backing the Tigray People's Liberation Front opposition alliance.
• US lawmakers expressed concern over the violence, urging all parties to recommit to peace negotiations to prevent further regional destabilization and protect civilians impacted by the conflict.