Friday, October 2, 2026 - Egypt has expelled a senior Ethiopian diplomat from Cairo, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours in a direct response to Ethiopia’s earlier expulsion of an Egyptian diplomat.
Cairo declared an Ethiopian embassy counsellor persona non grata, saying the move followed the principle of diplomatic reciprocity. The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation between the two Nile Basin neighbours.
Ethiopia had ordered Egyptian diplomat Ahmed Moharam Ahmed Soliman to leave Addis Ababa within 48 hours without publicly giving a reason. Egypt described the action as “unfortunate and unjustified” and rejected allegations of interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs.
The diplomatic confrontation comes as Ethiopia faces heightened tensions with Eritrea and renewed instability in its northern regions.
The dispute adds another layer to already strained Egypt-Ethiopia relations, which include a long-running disagreement over the Nile and Ethiopia’s large dam project.
The latest expulsions also come as tensions involving Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt are drawing concern across the region. The African Union has urged the countries to avoid actions or rhetoric that could further destabilise the Horn of Africa and called for disputes to be handled through diplomatic channels.
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