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Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as Tigray fighting intensifies

First reported 1 Oct, 16:15 UTCUpdated 4h ago16 sources

3 left · 11 center · 2 right · Full breakdown

Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which has launched attacks into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. Ethiopia said it would expel 10 Eritrean diplomats and close its embassy in Asmara.

Excerpt from Africanews

Compare the headlines

How outlets on each side framed it

From the Left
Daily Maverick
Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa orders closure of embassy in Asmara

Oct 1 (Reuters) - Ethiopia ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata on Thursday, prompting Asmara to sever all diplomatic ties with its neighbour after overnight blasts heard in Addis Ababa sparked fears about renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia spreading.

From the Center
Deutsche Welle
Ethiopia and Eritrea sever ties amid Tigray fighting

Ethiopia said it was expelling Eritrean diplomats in response to Eritrea's "direct and indirect acts of hostility." Eritrea said it had "no choice but to reciprocate in kind."

From the Right
The Wall Street Journal
Drones Strike Ethiopia’s Capital as Country Severs Ties with Eritrea

The country gave Eritrean diplomats 48 hours to leave, raising the specter that an internal conflict in Ethiopia might lead to direct war between the two African neighbors.

Full coverage

16 outlets — tap a headline to read it at the source

  1. The East AfricanCenterKEHigh factuality
    Ethiopia closes embassy in Eritrea, expels 10 diplomats amid rising tensions (opens The East African in a new tab)

    The decision to close its embassy in Asmara comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions.

  2. Deutsche WelleCenterDEVery high factuality
    Ethiopia and Eritrea sever ties amid Tigray fighting (opens Deutsche Welle in a new tab)

    Ethiopia said it was expelling Eritrean diplomats in response to Eritrea's "direct and indirect acts of hostility." Eritrea said it had "no choice but to reciprocate in kind."

  3. Middle East EyeLeftGBMixed factuality
    Eritrea and Ethiopia shutter embassies as new Red Sea conflict looms (opens Middle East Eye in a new tab)

    Eritrea and Ethiopia shutter embassies as new Red Sea conflict looms Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 10/01/2026 - 19:22 In response to Ethiopia's embassy closure, Eritrea accused Addis Ababa of funding armed groups to topple government Tigray People's Liberation Front fighters walk towards a field in Mekele, the…

  4. The Wall Street JournalLean RightUSHigh factuality
    Drones Strike Ethiopia’s Capital as Country Severs Ties with Eritrea (opens The Wall Street Journal in a new tab)

    The country gave Eritrean diplomats 48 hours to leave, raising the specter that an internal conflict in Ethiopia might lead to direct war between the two African neighbors.

  5. France 24CenterFRHigh factuality
    Ethiopia and Eritrea break diplomatic ties over conflict (opens France 24 in a new tab)

    In tonight's edition: Ethiopia and Eritrea break diplomatic ties, accusing each other of stoking internal conflicts. Also, Nigeria rolls out a digital postcode system for every building. Plus we speak to one of the co-founders of the Rural Women's Assembly as it is recognised for its work challenging power systems.

  6. South China Morning PostCenterHKMostly factual
    Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as northern fighting escalates (opens South China Morning Post in a new tab)

    Ethiopia and Eritrea broke diplomatic ties on Thursday, accusing each other of stoking internal conflicts as fighting continued in northern Ethiopia. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing a rebel group, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which launched a major assault against government forces last week…

  7. Al JazeeraLean LeftQAMostly factual
    Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in row over Tigray (opens Al Jazeera in a new tab)

    Eritrea has severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa closed its embassy in Asmara

  8. Daily MaverickLean LeftZAHigh factuality
    Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa orders closure of embassy in Asmara (opens Daily Maverick in a new tab)

    Oct 1 (Reuters) - Ethiopia ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata on Thursday, prompting Asmara to sever all diplomatic ties with its neighbour after overnight blasts heard in Addis Ababa sparked fears about renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia spreading.

  9. AllAfricaCenterZAMostly factual
    Ethiopia: Govt Declares 10 Eritrean Diplomats Persona Non Grata (opens AllAfrica in a new tab)

    [ENA] Addis Ababa -- Ethiopia has decided to close its Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea, and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats in Addis Ababa persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country within 48 hours.

  10. BloombergCenterUSVery high factuality
    Eritrea Cuts Ties With Ethiopia as Horn of Africa Tensions Flare (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)

    Eritrea severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia and alleged “deplorable acts of hostility” by its neighbor, which is battling a rebellion in its northern Tigray region on their common border.

  11. AfricanewsCenterCGHigh factuality
    Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as Tigray fighting intensifies (opens Africanews in a new tab)

    Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which has launched attacks into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. Ethiopia said it would expel 10 Eritrean diplomats and close its embassy in Asmara.

  12. SemaforCenterUSHigh factuality
    African Union urges restraint as Ethiopia tensions grow (opens Semafor in a new tab)

    Ethiopia has accused Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan of supporting armed ‌opposition groups that have fought its federal troops.

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