Ethiopia to Close Asmara Embassy, Expel 10 Eritrean Diplomats

What changed

Ethiopia announced on October 1 that it will close its embassy in Asmara and expel 10 Eritrean diplomats from Addis Ababa.

The diplomats have 48 hours to leave. Ethiopia said their activities threatened national security and breached the Vienna Convention, citing what it called hostile and belligerent conduct by Eritrea.

Why it matters

This is a sharp downgrade in Ethiopia-Eritrea diplomatic relations. Closing an embassy removes a formal channel between the two governments, while the expulsions put immediate pressure on Eritrea’s diplomatic presence in Addis Ababa.

The move is also deliberately mixed in tone. Ethiopia is taking punitive action while saying it still values the countries’ historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. It is presenting the decision as a security measure within a broader commitment to peaceful coexistence, regional stability and integration.

The practical outlook remains unclear because the alleged activities and Eritrea’s response have not been identified. If the measures endure, routine government-to-government contact and efforts to manage disputes could become harder.