African Union warns of escalating tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt

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ADDIS ABABA — The African Union Commission has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint as tensions between the three countries intensify, warning that further escalation could threaten peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the AU Commission said it was following the deterioration in relations “with concern” and called on the three member states to avoid actions or statements that could further inflame tensions. It also urged them to preserve channels of communication and resolve their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.

The warning comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Addis Ababa has moved to close its embassy in Asmara and expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats, accusing Eritrea of supporting an alliance of armed groups led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Eritrea has rejected the allegations and announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

The diplomatic crisis is unfolding alongside renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia. Forces linked to the TPLF have again clashed with federal troops and allied forces, raising concerns that the conflict could undermine the peace agreement signed in Pretoria in November 2022.

The African Union has described the Pretoria agreement as the foundation for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and has called for an immediate halt to the latest escalation.

Egypt and Sudan Drawn Into the Dispute

The regional dimension has widened after Ethiopian authorities accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting armed opposition groups. The countries have rejected the allegations.

Egypt’s position is particularly sensitive because of its long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the management of Nile waters.

At the same time, Ethiopia’s push for greater access to the Red Sea has added another strategic dimension to its relations with Eritrea and other countries in the region.

Reports of explosions in Addis Ababa on Thursday have further heightened concerns over the widening security crisis, as fighting continues in parts of northern Ethiopia.

For the African Union, the immediate priority is to prevent the disputes from developing into a broader regional conflict.

The AU Commission said it was ready, in consultation with the countries concerned, to support efforts aimed at de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences.

The latest intervention comes little more than a week after the AU called for an immediate de-escalation in northern Ethiopia and urged the parties to return to dialogue under the Pretoria peace framework.

With tensions rising simultaneously between Addis Ababa and Asmara, the Nile dispute continuing and fighting returning to northern Ethiopia, the crisis is emerging as a major test of the African Union’s ability to contain a potentially wider conflict in the Horn of Africa.