In a sign that tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia may be reemerging, phone lines connecting the two countries have reportedly been severed once again. This development mirrors decades-long periods of bilateral strain, marked by intermittent communication suspensions and diplomatic disengagement.
The phone line disconnection signals a potential decline in the peace achieved in 2018 when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a landmark peace agreement. The reconciliation, hailed as a turning point in Eritrea-Ethiopia relations, restored diplomatic ties, reopened borders, and allowed Ethiopian Airlines to resume flights to Asmara for the first time since the war of 1998.
However, reports suggest that the era of reconciliation might now be faltering. Eritrean citizens are once again unable to contact their loved ones in Ethiopia, and the suspension of communication further exacerbates concerns for the tens of thousands of Eritrean refugees currently residing in Ethiopia.
This communication cutoff comes just weeks after Ethiopian Airlines halted its flights to Asmara, following an ultimatum from the Eritrean government. Diplomatic relations remain intact, but no active diplomatic engagements have been observed recently between the two nations.
Despite the growing concerns, no official statements have been issued by either the Ethiopian or Eritrean governments, leaving the reasons for the renewed disruptions unclear. The situation raises questions about the future trajectory of relations between these historically contentious neighbors.
