Ethiopian Airlines, the state-owned flag carrier of Ethiopia, announced Monday it has suspended flights to neighboring Eritrea, citing unspecified “difficult operating conditions.”
The suspension comes after Eritrea had previously stated it would halt all Ethiopian Airlines flights at the end of September. This development marks a significant setback in bilateral relations that had shown signs of improvement since 2018.
“Ethiopian Airlines regrets to inform its valued customers travelling to/from Asmara that it has suspended its flights to Asmara effective Sept. 3 … due to very difficult operating conditions it has encountered in Eritrea that are beyond its control,” the airline said in a statement.
The carrier, ranked as Africa’s largest by revenue and profit according to the International Air Transport Association, said it would assist affected passengers by rebooking them on other airlines at no additional cost or offering refunds.
Flights between Ethiopia and Eritrea had resumed in 2018 after a two-decade hiatus, following a peace deal that earned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. The resumption of air travel was seen as a symbol of renewed diplomatic ties between the once-warring nations.
Five diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the flight suspension signifies a significant deterioration in relations between Asmara and Addis Ababa. However, they noted that the risk of renewed conflict remains low for now.
The roots of tension between the two countries date back to a border war from 1998 to 2000. More recently, Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia against regional forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region in a conflict that began in November 2020. However, relations soured again after Eritrea was excluded from peace talks that ended the Tigray conflict in 2022, and due to the continued presence of some Eritrean troops in Tigray.
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the flight suspension.
This development raises concerns about the stability of diplomatic relations in the Horn of Africa and potential impacts on regional trade and movement. Observers will be closely monitoring for any further signs of tension or efforts at reconciliation between the two nations.
Reuters
