The African Union Commission expresses its concern over the tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt

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The African Union Commission expressed on Friday its deep concern over the escalation of tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt.

The Commission called on the three member states to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions or statements that would escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability.

It urged the three countries to address their differences through approved diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue, in accordance with the principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

The African Union Commission affirmed its readiness to support efforts aimed at reducing escalation, dialogue, and reaching a peaceful solution to differences.

The Eritrean government announced in a statement on Thursday that it was severing all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in light of the ongoing developments and escalation between the two countries.

This announcement comes after Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara and demanded that Eritrean diplomats leave Ethiopia within 48 hours.

The Eritrean government accused Ethiopia of being hostile and openly declaring war against Eritrea three years ago, seeking the need to obtain a sovereign access to the sea by invading sovereign Eritrean ports and coastal areas.

These developments come after the governor of the Ethiopian Afar region accused the Eritrean army of direct participation in the ongoing war in northern Ethiopia with its leaders and heavy weapons, and that it seeks to block the road between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry also called on Ahmed Muharram Ahmed Suleiman, a member of the diplomatic staff at the Egyptian embassy in Ethiopia, to leave Ethiopia within 48 hours.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry stated that, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, it had notified the Egyptian embassy that Ahmed Muharram Ahmed Suleiman was persona non grata. (without giving details)

In turn, Egypt responded quickly to Ethiopia's decision to ask a member of the Egyptian embassy in Addis Ababa to leave the country and decided to expel the advisor to the Ethiopian embassy in Cairo.

In response to what the Ethiopian government did by declaring a member of the Egyptian embassy in Addis Ababa as persona non grata, an official Egyptian source described this action as “unfortunate” and unjustified, explaining that the Egyptian side has always affirmed its complete refusal to interfere in the internal affairs of countries and not to comment on events in other countries, including Ethiopia, out of respect for the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter.

The source concluded by saying that, in application of the principle of reciprocity, the advisor of the Ethiopian embassy in Cairo was considered persona non grata and the Egyptian authorities gave him 48 hours to leave the country.