Ethiopia has closed its embassy in Asmara, Eritrea and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats accredited to African Union (AU) persona non grata over what it says is a response to, “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence”.

Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting an opposition ‌alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) that has battled troops loyal to Ethiopia’s federal government since last week. But the three countries deny the claim that has now sparked fears about renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia.

“These diplomats are required to leave Ethiopia within 48 hours,” Ethiopia said in a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 1, 2026.

Eritrea responded to the move as, “persona non grata.” it says: “To justify these unwarranted acts of hostility, the Ethiopian Government has turned the tables to accuse Eritrea of ‘direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia’.

“This is astounding indeed. In reality, it is Ethiopia that has been pursuing an agenda of incessant hostility – in effect, a publicly pronounced declaration of war – against Eritrea for three years in pursuit of ‘the imperative of acquiring sovereign access to the sea’ through the invasion of sovereign Eritrean ports and coastal areas,” Eritrea said in a statement from Eritrea.

AU Commission is clearly following with concern the heightened tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt, calling on all the three Member States to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions or statements that could further escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability.

Addis Ababa, for example, views Eritrea as an active enabler of the seven armed groups confronting the Ethiopian government, allegedly through weapons, combat personnel, operational support, intelligence, and strategic guidance.

The Commission is urging the three countries to address their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue, in accordance with the principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

It says: “The AU Commission stands ready, in consultation with the countries concerned, to support efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences.”