Aljazeera published on 2 October 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia, Eritrea Break Ties: Does the Conflict Risk Becoming Regional War?" by Stephen Quillen.
The severance of diplomatic ties by Ethiopia and Eritrea follows months of worsening relations, driven by landlocked Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea and allegations that Eritrea is backing the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia and Egypt have also engaged recently in tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats and continue to disagree on Nile water issues. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) are accusing Ethiopia of supporting the rival Rapid Support Forces in Sudan while Ethiopia accuses the SAF of supporting rebel groups in Ethiopia.
As the situation in the Horn of Africa moves increasingly out of control, the prospect for a wider regional conflict grows.
