Ethiopia Closes Embassy in Eritrea, Expels 10 Diplomats as War Fears Rise

October 1, 2026

Ethiopia has closed its embassy in Asmara and declared ten Eritrean diplomats in Addis Ababa persona non grata, ordering them to leave within 48 hours.

The Foreign Ministry accused Eritrea of “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence” and said the diplomats were involved in activities posing a “direct threat” to Ethiopia’s national security.

The move comes amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and growing concern that the conflict could expand beyond Tigray.

For weeks, some regional observers have argued that Addis Ababa may have been looking for evidence of direct Eritrean involvement strong enough to persuade Western partners that any Ethiopian military response could be presented as self-defence.

Thursday’s statement does not announce military action or formally invoke self-defence. But its language significantly hardens Ethiopia’s position toward Eritrea.

The central question now is whether Addis Ababa will use further evidence of alleged Eritrean involvement to justify a direct military response, potentially turning the current conflict into a wider interstate war.