Eritrea has formally requested the African Union (AU) to intervene and take “immediate corrective measures” to reinstate its rightful representation at the pan-African body’s headquarters following Ethiopia’s decision to expel several high-ranking Eritrean diplomats.
The appeal was detailed in an official letter from Eritrea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, publicly released on Thursday, which raised “a matter of serious concern pertaining to the denial of Eritrea’s membership rights in the African Union.” The communication specifically highlighted how recent unilateral actions by neighboring Ethiopia have disrupted Eritrea’s ability to participate fully in the activities of both the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), both headquartered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The core of the dispute stems from October 1, when Ethiopian authorities declared 10 Eritrean diplomatic personnel stationed at the embassy in Addis Ababa persona non grata, ordering them to leave the country. According to Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry, the expelled officials included Eritrea’s formally accredited Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA, along with three key diplomatic staff members whose designated duties included covering affairs for both international organizations.
By denying these diplomats entry and continued residency, Asmara argues that Ethiopia has effectively stripped Eritrea of its fundamental rights as a sovereign member state within these international forums. The ministry stressed that because the African Union is an intergovernmental organization established on the foundational principle of sovereign equality among all its constituent member states, one host nation should not possess the power to unilaterally block or manipulate another member state’s institutional access.
In its letter to the AU, the Eritrean government asserted that its statutory rights and privileges as a member “cannot be curtailed or compromised at the whim of another member state.” It further called on the AU Commission to urgently bring this grave matter to the attention of the organization’s policy organs, specifically the Executive Council and the Assembly of the African Union.
“Eritrea urges the policy organs to take immediate corrective measures to restore Eritrea’s rightful representation at the headquarters of the union and ensure its full participation in the activities of the union as a sovereign and equal member,” the statement emphasized.
This institutional protest comes against the backdrop of a rapid and dangerous breakdown in bilateral relations between the two Horn of Africa nations. What began as growing rhetoric has quickly transformed into full-scale diplomatic retaliation.
Earlier this month, Ethiopia announced the formal closure of its embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital. Ethiopian officials defended the move by accusing Eritrea of engaging in “direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia.” In response to Ethiopia’s closure of its embassy and the expulsion of diplomatic staff, Eritrea subsequently announced a complete severance of bilateral ties between the two countries.
The severe diplomatic freeze marks a distressing setback for a region that has faced decades of volatility. Analysts warn that the loss of direct diplomatic channels between Addis Ababa and Asmara could complicate peace building and regional stability, while also setting a challenging legal and procedural precedent for how host countries manage international institutions operating within their borders.
