Addis Ababa, Oct. 2 (SANA) The African Union has urged Ethiopia, Egypt and Eritrea to exercise maximum restraint after a series of diplomatic moves deepened tensions among the three countries.
The African Union Commission said it was closely following the situation and called on the three governments to avoid actions or statements that could further escalate tensions or undermine regional peace and stability.
The commission stressed the importance of keeping communication channels open and urged the countries to address their differences through established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.
It said the African Union was prepared, in consultation with the countries involved, to support de-escalation efforts and help facilitate dialogue and peaceful solutions.
The appeal came as Egypt and Ethiopia exchanged diplomatic expulsions and relations between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea deteriorated further.
Egypt said Thursday it had declared a counselor at the Ethiopian Embassy in Cairo persona non grata and given the diplomat 48 hours to leave the country, applying the principle of reciprocity after Ethiopia took similar action against an Egyptian diplomat.
Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency, MENA, quoted an official source as calling Ethiopia’s decision “regrettable and unjustified.”
The Egyptian source rejected allegations of interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs and said Cairo respects the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter. The source also accused the Ethiopian government of blaming outside parties for domestic crises, a claim attributed to the Egyptian side.
Ethiopia had earlier declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata and ordered the diplomat to leave within 48 hours, according to the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry.
Relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa have long been strained by several issues, including their dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Ethiopia-Eritrea relations deteriorate
Separately, Eritrea said Thursday it was severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa announced the closure of the Eritrean Embassy and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats, including the chargé d’affaires, persona non grata.
Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry described Ethiopia’s measures as hostile and said Asmara would respond by severing diplomatic ties. Ethiopia, according to the Eritrean statement, accused Eritrea of direct and indirect hostile acts — allegations rejected by Asmara.
The African Union called on all three countries to preserve diplomatic channels as it offered to support efforts to reduce tensions and resolve disputes peacefully.
kA/ABD
