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The African Union Commission on Thursday urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint and resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue as tensions rise over Red Sea access, water disputes and shifting security alliances in the Horn of Africa.
The commission said it was “closely following with concern” developments involving the three African Union member states and called on them to avoid actions or statements that could further escalate tensions or undermine regional peace and stability.
The commission stressed the importance of keeping diplomatic communication channels open and urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to address their disagreements through established diplomatic mechanisms and peaceful dialogue in line with the African Union's Constitutive Act.
“The AU Commission stands ready, in consultation with the countries concerned, to support efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences,” it said.
The appeal came as Ethiopia announced a series of diplomatic measures involving Egypt and Eritrea.
In a diplomatic note sent to the Egyptian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said embassy employee Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman had been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.
On the same day, Ethiopia decided to close its embassy in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and declared 10 Eritrean diplomats persona non grata.
Eritrea responded by deciding to sever diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.
The diplomatic moves came as clashes resumed in northern Ethiopia between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF.
Tensions among the countries are also being driven by several regional disputes.
Landlocked Ethiopia has sought access to Red Sea maritime routes, while Ethiopia and Egypt have long disagreed over water resources linked to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The region has also seen shifting military and security alliances across the Horn of Africa.
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