Ethiopia and Egypt each expelled a diplomat on 2 October with 48 hours to leave, a day after Ethiopia’s break with Eritrea. Ethiopia gave no reason; an Egyptian government source called the move “unjustified” and accused Addis Ababa of blaming outsiders for its internal crises. Ethiopia accuses Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan of backing the rebel alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which all three deny; Cairo and Addis Ababa also dispute the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The African Union Commission urged the three states to talk. Open diplomatic conflict with two neighbours raises the risk that outside states are drawn into Ethiopia’s war.
Sources
- Egypt Independent: https://www.egyptindependent.com/egypt-and-ethiopia-expel-diplomats-under-48-hour-deadline/
- Jerusalem Post (AU statement): https://www.jpost.com/international/article-910397
- Reuters via Arab News: https://www.arabnews.pk/world/african-union-calls-for-calm-as-ethiopia-egypt-disputes-escalate-3002947
- The Rio Times: https://www.riotimesonline.com/cairo-expels-ethiopian-embassy-counsellor-48-hours-2026/