Ethiopia's new rebel war redraws alliances across the Horn of Africa

Wukro in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, where renewed fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front is part of a conflict that has also brought a diplomatic rupture between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea. © AP - Jody Ray

Ethiopia and Eritrea have cut diplomatic ties as a new rebel offensive grips northern Ethiopia, putting two countries that fought together during the last Tigray war on opposing sides. Ethiopia accuses its neighbour of supporting a new anti-government alliance.

Ethiopia announced on Thursday that it was closing its embassy in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and expelling 10 Eritrean diplomats suspected of activities posing "a direct threat to national security".