Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has rejected any suggestion that it is involved in Ethiopia’s latest internal conflict, after the African Union called on Cairo, Addis Ababa and Asmara to avoid actions or statements that could further destabilize the Horn of Africa.
An Egyptian official source said Cairo was surprised by the African Union Commission’s decision to include Egypt in a statement addressing the escalating confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The source argued that the current crisis is rooted in Ethiopia’s domestic political and security problems and should not be presented as a dispute involving Egypt.
The response came after the African Union urged the three countries to show maximum restraint, maintain open communication and resolve their differences through diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue. The continental body said it was following developments with concern and warned that further escalation could threaten regional peace and stability.
Cairo rejected that characterization. According to the Egyptian source, Egypt’s foreign policy is based on respect for national sovereignty, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, adherence to international law and good-neighbourly relations.
The source said Egypt had no role in the fighting inside Ethiopia and accused unnamed parties of attempting to shift attention away from the domestic causes of the crisis. Egypt, the source added, would continue supporting efforts aimed at strengthening peace, security and economic cooperation across Africa.
The dispute has emerged during a sharp deterioration in Ethiopia’s relations with both Eritrea and Egypt. On Thursday, Ethiopia expelled an Egyptian diplomat and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours. Egypt responded by declaring an Ethiopian embassy counsellor persona non grata and imposing the same deadline for his departure.
Ethiopia also closed its embassy in Eritrea and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats. Eritrea then announced that it was severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, adding a serious international dimension to the conflict in northern Ethiopia.
The immediate security crisis is centred on Tigray, where fighting resumed on September 23 between Ethiopian federal forces and armed groups associated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The clashes represent the most serious breakdown in security since the end of the civil war that devastated the region between 2020 and 2022.
That war ended with the Pretoria peace agreement, which was negotiated with African Union support in November 2022. The agreement halted the main hostilities but left several political, territorial and security questions unresolved. Disputes over contested areas, the status of armed forces and the future political role of the TPLF have continued to strain relations between Tigray and the federal government.
Recent fighting has reportedly spread beyond Tigray into neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions. Federal troops and allied forces have moved toward Mekelle, the regional capital, while opposing forces have claimed territorial gains in several areas. Reports about control of key locations, including the city’s airport, have varied and could not immediately be independently confirmed.
The renewed violence has also intensified fears that the conflict could extend beyond Ethiopia’s borders. Eritrea lies directly north of Tigray and played a major role in supporting Ethiopia’s federal government during the previous war. Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have since deteriorated, with disagreements involving security arrangements, political influence and Ethiopia’s efforts to obtain reliable access to the Red Sea.
Egypt has denied Ethiopian allegations that it is supporting armed groups seeking to undermine the federal government. Cairo has also rejected claims that it is interfering in Ethiopia’s internal affairs.
The accusations are particularly sensitive because Egypt and Ethiopia remain locked in a long-running dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Cairo has repeatedly demanded a binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the dam, while Addis Ababa has defended its right to use the river for electricity generation and national development.
Although the latest Egyptian response focused on the Tigray conflict rather than the Nile dispute, the two issues form part of a broader pattern of mistrust between the governments. Each side has accused the other of using regional alliances and diplomatic pressure to advance its strategic interests.
The African Union’s appeal reflects concern that separate disputes could merge into a wider confrontation involving Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt and other countries affected by instability in the Horn of Africa. Sudan’s continuing war has already added another layer of insecurity to the region, while tensions around the Red Sea have drawn increased attention from regional and international powers.
The Egyptian source said that associating Cairo with Ethiopia’s internal crisis would not help resolve the conflict. Instead, the African Union should focus on supporting dialogue among Ethiopian parties and helping the country address the causes of recurring violence.
Cairo maintained that it would continue working with other African states to promote peace, security, investment and economic partnerships. At the same time, its rejection of the African Union statement made clear that Egypt does not accept being treated as a party to Ethiopia’s domestic conflict.
The diplomatic exchange leaves the African Union facing a difficult task. It must encourage restraint among the governments involved while avoiding language that could deepen Egypt’s opposition or allow Ethiopia and Eritrea to dismiss mediation efforts as politically biased. With fighting again threatening Tigray and relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara at their lowest point in years, the success of regional diplomacy may depend on keeping communication channels open before the crisis develops into a broader war.
