AU calls for restraint as Ethiopia-Eritrea-Egypt tensions escalate

 The African Union Commission has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint as diplomatic tensions between the three countries continue to rise.

In a statement, the AU Commission said it was closely following the situation with concern and urged the three countries to avoid actions or statements that could further escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability.

“The Commission calls on all three Member States to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions or statements that could further escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

The AU appeal follows Ethiopia’s decision to close its embassy in Asmara and declare 10 Eritrean diplomats in Addis Ababa persona non grata.

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the diplomats of involvement in activities it said posed a direct threat to the country’s national security and were in breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The diplomats were ordered to leave Ethiopia within 48 hours.

Eritrea rejected Ethiopia’s accusations and responded by announcing that it would sever diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

The diplomatic dispute comes against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the two neighbours. Ethiopia and Eritrea restored diplomatic ties in 2018 after years of hostility, but relations have since come under renewed strain, particularly following the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

Ethiopia has also expressed concerns over Eritrea’s alleged involvement in regional and internal security matters, while disagreements have intensified over Ethiopia’s efforts to secure reliable access to the Red Sea. Eritrea has rejected accusations that it is supporting forces opposed to the Ethiopian government.

The tensions have also drawn in Egypt, amid wider regional disputes involving security and Ethiopia’s Nile dam project.

Against this backdrop, the AU Commission has urged the three countries to keep diplomatic channels open.

“The Commission further underscores the importance of preserving channels of communication and urges the three countries to address their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue,” the statement said.

The African Union said it remains ready to support efforts to reduce tensions and promote dialogue.

“The AU Commission stands ready, in consultation with the countries concerned, to support efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences,” it said.

The latest diplomatic developments have raised broader concerns about stability in the Horn of Africa, where tensions involving Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt intersect with existing conflicts and regional security disputes.