Ethiopia shutters embassy in Eritrea amid fresh diplomatic rift

Ethiopia's government said it would shut down its diplomatic mission in the Eritrean capital as part of retaliatory measures against Asmara. The decision follows Eritrea's move to sever diplomatic ties with Addis Ababa, triggering the reciprocal response from the Ethiopian side.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry designated ten Eritrean diplomats as unwelcome persons, ordering their departure from the country. The action marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two Horn of Africa nations, which have experienced fraught interactions in recent years.

The diplomatic rupture underscores ongoing regional tensions. Ethiopia and Eritrea have a history of border disputes and military conflicts, though a 2018 peace agreement had temporarily eased hostilities between the neighboring states.

Neither government has publicly disclosed the specific triggers for the latest diplomatic breakdown. The closure of Ethiopia's embassy in Asmara represents a substantial downgrade in bilateral relations and signals deepening mistrust between the governments.