Egypt Expels Ethiopian Diplomat Amid Nile Dam Dispute

Egypt has ordered an Ethiopian diplomat to leave the country within 48 hours after declaring him persona non grata, in a reciprocal move following Ethiopia’s expulsion of an Egyptian official.

The action, taken on Thursday, adds to growing tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa, whose relations have been strained for years by disagreement over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.

The identities of the officials involved were not provided, and no reason was publicly given for Ethiopia’s decision to expel the Egyptian official.

Egypt cites reciprocity

An Egyptian source quoted by local media described Ethiopia’s expulsion as “regrettable and unjustified.” The source said Egypt’s decision was taken “in line with the principle of reciprocity.”

The Egyptian side also accused Ethiopia of blaming foreign actors for what it called the country’s “successive internal crises.” The source said Egypt generally refrains from commenting on developments in other states, including Ethiopia, citing international law and the United Nations Charter.

Egypt had not publicly responded to Ethiopia’s allegation that Cairo was backing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Sudan, which was also accused, denied the allegation.

Dam dispute and regional tensions

The diplomatic confrontation comes amid a longstanding dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a massive hydroelectric project on the Blue Nile. Egypt considers the project a threat to its share of the river’s water.

Regional security concerns have placed additional strain on relations in recent months. Ethiopia accused Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea of supporting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front after the group launched a major assault against government forces.

Ethiopia and Eritrea also severed diplomatic ties on Thursday and accused each other of fuelling internal conflicts as fighting continued in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

Egypt has strengthened its relations with Asmara in recent months, adding another dimension to the broader regional tensions surrounding the Nile dispute and conflicts in the Horn of Africa.