The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia announced the formal closure of its embassy in Asmara on October 1,2026, alongside declaring ten Eritrean diplomats persona non grata. The affected individuals have been ordered to depart the country within 48 hours.
The ministry attributed this decision to ongoing acts of hostility and belligerence by Eritrea that directly threaten Ethiopian sovereignty. These ten diplomats in Addis Ababa were specifically cited for engaging in activities that violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and posed a direct threat to national security, though specific details regarding their actions were not disclosed.
The escalation stems from multiple critical developments, coinciding with renewed armed clashes in northern Ethiopia involving federal troops and regional forces, which have placed heavy strain on the 2022 Pretoria Agreement.
This crisis marks a profound reversal of the 2018 diplomatic breakthrough between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki—a rapprochement that initially earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize and restored missions after decades of hostility. The two neighboring nations previously fought a destructive border war from 1998 to 2000 and later found themselves on opposing sides during the 2020–2022 Tigray conflict.
Despite these severe measures, the ministry emphasized that Ethiopia continues to value its profound historical, cultural, and people-to-people bonds with the Eritrean population.
“Ethiopia remains committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to working with all countries in the Horn of Africa to advance lasting peace, security, and regional integration,” the ministry stated, urging Asmara to cease all actions inconsistent with international norms governing sovereign states.