Ethiopia on Thursday announced it was shutting its embassy in Eritrea and also declared ten Eritrean diplomats “persona non grata”, accused them of involvement in activities that threatened national security.
The embassy in Eritrea had been reopened in 2018 as part of the rapprochement that culminated in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
A statement issued by Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said the action was being taken “in response to Eritrea’s direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia.”
With regard to the expulsion of the Eritrean diplomats, Addis Ababa said that it was “for involvement in activities that pose a direct threat to Ethiopia’s national security.”
The Eritrean diplomats were given 48 hours to leave the country.
Reports of earlier blast at Ethiopian military headquarters
The measures came following reports of an explosion overnight at Ethiopian military headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The AFP news agency reported that the explosion took place at the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) headquarters between midnight and 1:00am local time, citing diplomatic and security sources with the information.
The sources could not provide further information relating to the nature of the blast or who was responsible, or if there had been any casualties.
The Associated Press, citing security sources, reported that there had been three blasts that came after the government banned the use of drones in the capital.
It’s not clear whether the blasts were related to any attack or whether they had been part of training exercises.
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Eritrea has denied allegations that it supports an armed alliance — which includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the the Amhara Fano National Movement, and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — currently fighting Ethiopian government forces. The coalition is named Alliance for Survival.
Hundreds have been killed and wounded since last week’s resumption of heavy fighting in northern Ethiopia.
Clashes have been ongoing and have have taken place along several fronts.
The United Nations has called for de-escalation of the fighting and for talks between the government and the recently formed alliance.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
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