Ethiopia Orders Eritrea Embassy Closed, Expels Ten Diplomats; Eritrea Severs All Diplomatic Ties October 1 Amid Widening Tigray Conflict

Ethiopia ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and declared ten Eritrean diplomats persona non grata on October 1, 2026, prompting Asmara to sever all diplomatic ties with its neighbour, according to Reuters reported by CNBC Africa and multiple outlets. Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared several Eritrean diplomats stationed in Addis Ababa persona non grata and ordered them to depart the country within 48 hours, also closing its embassy in Asmara after accusing Eritrea of direct and indirect hostility, according to ACLED. Eritrea cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia on October 1 after the embassy closure, Africanews reported. The move followed overnight blasts heard in Addis Ababa that sparked fears about renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia spreading.

Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front that has battled troops loyal to Ethiopia's federal government since last week, according to Reuters. The three countries deny the accusation. Eritrea has denied allegations that it is supporting the opposition alliance, Al Jazeera reported October 1. The clashes mark the biggest escalation of fighting in Ethiopia since the end of a 2020-2022 civil war in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed, CNBC Africa reported. Eritrea had fought in support of Ethiopia's federal government in that conflict. The diplomatic break eliminates formal channels for de-escalation between the two neighbours at a moment when fighting in Afar carries the risk of regional repercussions and potentially bringing Eritrea and Ethiopia into a wider war, Al Jazeera noted.

Sources

CNBC Africa, "Eritrea cuts ties with Ethiopia over Asmara embassy closure," October 1, 2026, cnbcafrica.com ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project), "Ethiopia," October 1, 2026 entry, acleddata.com Al Jazeera, "Blasts heard in Addis Ababa as Ethiopia conflict widens in the north," October 1, 2026, aljazeera.com Reuters via CNBC Africa, October 1, 2026