The African Union Commission has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint amid heightened tensions involving the three countries over a range of regional security and geopolitical issues.
In a statement issued Thursday, the AU Commission said it was “closely following with concern” the developments and warned that further escalation could undermine peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
The continental body urged the three AU member states to “exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions or statements that could further escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability.”
The commission also emphasized the importance of maintaining open channels of communication among the countries and encouraged them to resolve their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.
It said such efforts should be guided by the principles contained in the African Union's Constitutive Act.
“The AU Commission stands ready, in consultation with the countries concerned, to support efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences,” the statement said.
The appeal comes amid a series of diplomatic developments that have further strained relations in the Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia Expels Egyptian and Eritrean Diplomats
On Thursday, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Egypt's embassy in Addis Ababa that Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman, an employee of the Egyptian diplomatic mission, had been declared persona non grata.
The Egyptian diplomatic employee was ordered to leave Ethiopia within 48 hours.
Ethiopia also announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata.
The diplomatic measures added another layer of tension to relations between Ethiopia and its neighboring countries.
Eritrea subsequently announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.
The latest developments occurred as fighting has reportedly resumed between Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in northern Ethiopia, raising concerns about renewed instability following the devastating 2020-2022 conflict in Tigray.
Disputes Over Regional Security and Resources
The tensions among Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt are linked to several overlapping political, security and economic issues.
One major issue concerns Ethiopia's efforts to secure reliable access to seaports and maritime trade routes. As a landlocked country, Ethiopia has been seeking arrangements that would provide it with access to the Red Sea and other strategic maritime routes.
The issue has generated concerns and competing interests involving neighboring countries, particularly Eritrea and other states in the Horn of Africa.
Another longstanding source of tension is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia constructed on the Blue Nile.
Egypt has repeatedly raised concerns about the dam's operation and its potential implications for the country's water security. Ethiopia maintains that the project is primarily intended to generate electricity and support its economic development.
The dispute has involved negotiations among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the filling and operation of the dam and the establishment of mechanisms for managing water flows.
Shifting Military Alliances
The AU also faces a broader regional security environment characterized by changing military and political relationships among countries in the Horn of Africa.
Shifting alliances and security partnerships have contributed to concerns about the potential for disputes between individual countries to develop into wider regional confrontations.
Against this backdrop, the African Union Commission has placed emphasis on dialogue and diplomatic engagement as the preferred means of addressing disagreements.
The organization said it remains prepared to engage with the countries involved and support initiatives aimed at reducing tensions.
The AU's appeal comes at a sensitive moment, with diplomatic relations deteriorating between Ethiopia and Eritrea, longstanding disagreements continuing between Ethiopia and Egypt, and renewed fighting reported in northern Ethiopia.
The commission's call for restraint and continued communication underscores concerns that further diplomatic or military escalation could have consequences for regional peace, security and stability across the Horn of Africa.
