Ethiopia and Egypt declare diplomats persona non grata
Both countries give a diplomat 48 hours to leave, without publicly explaining who took the first step.
Ethiopia declared an Egyptian diplomat persona non grata on Thursday and gave him 48 hours to leave the country. According to an Egyptian government source, Egypt responded with the same measure against an Ethiopian diplomat in Cairo. The reason for the first step has not been made public; the exchange coincides with rising tensions over the war in Tigray and the Nile.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman, an employee of the Egyptian embassy in Addis Ababa, was no longer welcome. According to Ethiopia’s state news agency, the embassy was instructed to have him leave within 48 hours of being notified.
Egypt announced a retaliatory measure later in the day. According to the Egyptian Gazette, citing an official source and the Egyptian news agency MENA, an Ethiopian embassy counsellor in Cairo was likewise declared persona non grata and has 48 hours to leave the country. Egypt called Ethiopia’s decision regrettable and unjustified.
The Ethiopian notification that has been made public gives no reason for the expulsion. Nor does it describe what action by the Egyptian diplomat may have prompted it. As a result, it is not currently possible to establish whether the measure is connected to a specific incident, a broader policy issue or the regional security situation.
The term persona non grata is part of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Under Article 9, a receiving country may declare a diplomat unwelcome at any time and does not have to give a reason. The sending country must then recall the diplomat or terminate their functions; if it does not, the receiving country may no longer recognise them as diplomatic personnel.
The step against Egypt comes on a day when Ethiopia also closed its embassy in Eritrea and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats. Addis Ababa accused them of activities that would pose a direct threat to national security. Eritrea then announced that it would respond with a similar measure, while relations between the two countries had already deteriorated because of renewed fighting in Tigray.
The regional tension also affects Egypt. Earlier this week, Ethiopia’s military leadership accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan fighters. This was an Ethiopian allegation; available reporting provides no independent confirmation that Egypt supports the fighters. According to reports, Egypt denied the allegation.
There has also been a years-long dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Ethiopia sees the dam as an important energy and development project, while Egypt fears that the water supply downstream will be threatened. In January, the US president offered to mediate again. It is not yet clear whether the diplomatic expulsions will directly affect talks over the dam.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Ethiopia and Egypt have declared each other’s diplomats persona non grata.
- Both countries are applying a 48-hour departure period.
- Ethiopia’s public notification gives no reason for the initial measure.
- The measure coincides with broader tensions involving Eritrea, Tigray and the Nile dispute.
Left
Arguments De-escalation and regional cooperation should take priority. Diplomatic expulsions make conflicts more visible, but reduce the scope for negotiations and may expose civilians in the region to further instability.
Values The international rule of law, human security, multilateral cooperation and the protection of civilians.
Consequences Further diplomatic escalation could complicate peace mediation, humanitarian access and agreements on water management.
Centre
Arguments States may safeguard their diplomatic security, but should exercise restraint with measures whose cause is not made public. Independent mediation and verifiable communication are needed to limit misunderstandings.
Values Institutional stability, proportionality, transparency and upholding treaty rules.
Consequences Reciprocal expulsions may create temporary political pressure, but afterwards require diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation.
Right
Arguments A government should be able to determine which foreign representatives it accepts on its territory, especially when it suspects national security risks. Reciprocity shows that diplomatic pressure has consequences.
Values National sovereignty, security, deterrence and control over foreign interference.
Consequences A strong response may discourage foreign influence, but also increases the risk of retaliation and a prolonged deterioration in bilateral relations.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The core facts have been confirmed by Ethiopia’s state news agency and reporting from Egypt. The broader context concerning Eritrea, Tigray and the Nile is based on independent reporting and is attributed as allegation or uncertainty.
- confirmed Ethiopia declared Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman persona non grata and gave him 48 hours to leave. — Reported by the Ethiopian News Agency on the basis of a notification from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. source
- confirmed Egypt subsequently declared an Ethiopian embassy official persona non grata and likewise gave him 48 hours. — Reported by the Egyptian Gazette on the basis of an official Egyptian source and MENA. source
- confirmed Ethiopia’s public notification gives no reason for the measure against the Egyptian diplomat. — The published notification states the status and departure period, but gives no reason. source
- confirmed Article 9 of the Vienna Convention allows a receiving country to declare a diplomat persona non grata without giving a reason. — This is stated in Article 9 of the official United Nations convention. source
- confirmed Ethiopia closed its embassy in Eritrea the same day and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats. — Confirmed by reporting from DW based on Reuters, AP and AFP. source
- confirmed Ethiopia’s military leadership accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan fighters. — The Associated Press described this as an allegation by Ethiopia’s army chief; independent confirmation was lacking. source
- confirmed The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is the subject of a long-running dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt, and the US offered to mediate again in January. — The Associated Press described both the dispute over the dam and the US offer to mediate. source
Editor's note
It is certain that both countries have declared diplomats persona non grata and specified a 48-hour departure period. The reason for Ethiopia’s initial measure has not been made public; a direct link to the Tigray war or the Nile dispute cannot be established.Sources
- Ethiopia Declares Egyptian Diplomat Persona Non Grata, Orders Departure Within 48 Hours — Ethiopian News Agency
- Egypt deems Ethiopian diplomat persona non grata in reciprocal move — Egyptian Gazette
- Ethiopia: Embassy shut in Eritrea, 10 diplomats expelled — DW, met Reuters, AP en AFP
- Ethiopia's army chief accuses Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray rebels — Associated Press
- Egypt and Sudan welcome Trump's offer to mediate Nile River dam dispute — Associated Press
- Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 — United Nations
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „ethiopië egypte”
- AD — „ethiopië egypte”
- de Volkskrant — „ethiopië egypte”