Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as northern fighting escalates

As of October 3, 2026, Eritrea severed diplomatic ties with its neighbor Ethiopia, reciprocating a move by Ethiopia to close its embassy in Asmara and expel ten Eritrean diplomats. This escalation follows renewed fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in northern Ethiopia, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. The breakdown in relations marks a dramatic reversal from the peace agreement signed eight years ago that had earned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Both countries accuse each other of supporting opposition groups and threatening national security, with Ethiopia also declaring an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata, leading to reciprocal actions by Egypt. The conflict could potentially draw in other regional powers, heightening concerns about a broader war that previously killed an estimated 600,000 people between 2020 and 2022.