On Thursday, Egypt expelled a diplomat from the Ethiopian embassy in Cairo. This action came after Ethiopia had also expelled a diplomat from the Egyptian embassy in Addis Ababa. These developments are the latest signs of ongoing tensions between the two neighboring countries in Africa.
Details of the Diplomat Expulsions
State-affiliated news agencies in Egypt reported that officials in the country declared the Ethiopian embassy's advisor as an "undesirable person" and requested him to leave the country within 48 hours. The report did not mention the diplomat's name, but some sources have indicated that his name is Agazi Melaku Berhanu.
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This decision was made in response to Ethiopia's action of expelling Ahmed Moharram Ahmed Suleiman, the senior diplomat of the Egyptian embassy in Ethiopia. Ethiopian officials have not disclosed the reason for Suleiman's expulsion, but this action has further heightened the existing tensions between the two countries.
Consequences of the Diplomat Expulsions
An informed source in Egypt described Ethiopia's action as "regrettable and unjustified" and stated that Cairo has always refrained from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, including Ethiopia. These tensions, which may stem from various issues such as the Tigray crisis, the situation in Somalia, and also matters related to the Nile River, could have significant impacts on the political and economic relations between the two countries.
In recent years, Egypt and Ethiopia have been heavily engaged in political tensions due to water projects and Nile water resources. While Ethiopia continues to construct the Grand Renaissance Dam, Egypt is concerned about reduced access to its water resources. These disputes not only harm the relations between the two countries but could also affect regional stability.
In this context, international observers have emphasized the importance of diplomacy and negotiation to resolve these tensions and have advised both countries to refrain from any provocative actions and seek common solutions to the existing issues.
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