Ethiopia has ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours and closed its embassy in Asmara, sharply escalating tensions between the neighbours.

Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said the move was in response to Eritrea’s “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence”. It accused the diplomats of activities posing a direct threat to national security.

Eritrea rejected the accusations and announced it was severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, the sharpest rupture since the two restored relations in 2018.

Ethiopia also declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata, and Cairo responded in kind. The African Union urged all three countries to exercise maximum restraint.

The rupture comes as renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia marks the worst escalation since the 2020-2022 civil war. Federal forces have advanced towards the Tigrayan capital Mekelle, while blasts were reported overnight in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. All three deny the allegation.