Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties amid northern conflict

Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic relations following a sharp escalation in regional tensions. On Thursday, Addis Ababa announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours, citing activities that threatened national security. Eritrea confirmed it was cutting ties in response, calling the move "astounding" and warning of negative consequences.

The diplomatic fallout coincides with heavy fighting in northern Ethiopia involving federal forces and an alliance of armed groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The conflict, which involves fighting in the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions, follows recent explosions in Addis Ababa near military and intelligence headquarters. While the TPLF-led alliance aims to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, both sides have traded blame for starting the latest hostilities.

Independent verification of the battlefield situation remains difficult due to restricted access and disrupted communications. The United Nations has warned that drone activity and air strikes are jeopardizing humanitarian operations, while the African Union has urged all parties to exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue. Ethiopia and Eritrea were previously allies during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, but relations have soured significantly over disputes concerning Red Sea access.

What to watch: Future developments regarding the reported drone attacks and potential shifts in the humanitarian security situation in northern Ethiopia.

Editor's note: The article is accurate but misses significant context like the 52 civilian deaths in Alamata and the specific involvement of Egypt in the AU's call for restraint.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: BBC World