Eritrea announces severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia

China News Service, Beijing, October 2. Asmara News: On October 1, local time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea issued a statement announcing the severing of all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

According to news from Al Jazeera and other media, the Ethiopian government announced the closure of the Eritrean Embassy in Ethiopia through social media on the same day in order to "respond to Eritrea's direct and indirect hostile and bellicose actions against Ethiopia" and listed 10 Eritrean diplomats as "persona non grata", accusing them of "participating in activities that pose a direct threat to Ethiopia's national security" and ordering these diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.

Eritrea's foreign ministry called the move "ridiculous" and the accusations of its involvement in hostilities "shocking" and said Ethiopia had been pursuing an agenda of continued hostility and had waged war against Eritrea to gain access to the Red Sea. Additionally, Ethiopia hosts, trains, and arms Eritrean opposition groups to foment internal conflict.

Under these circumstances, the Eritrean government "has no choice but to take reciprocal action, sever all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia and bear all negative consequences."

Recently, the "Tigray People's Liberation Front" armed forces and Ethiopian government forces clashed in the northern region of the country. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of ​​supporting armed groups fighting government forces in northern Ethiopia.