Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in tit-for-tat move

Eritrea has announced it is severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in response to the expulsion of its diplomats from Addis Ababa, amid escalating fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and armed opposition groups. Eritrea accused Ethiopia of hostility and of hosting, training, and arming opposition groups to fuel internal conflict. In retaliation, Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara and declared several Eritrean diplomats persona non grata, requiring them to leave within 48 hours. Fierce clashes continue in the Afar region and in Addis Ababa.