After Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, Ethiopia and Eritrea renewed diplomatic relations that had been severed for 20 years.
This historic reconciliation led to the resumption of many services, including normal telephone communication between the two countries. However, after seven years of functioning, the telephone service has been suspended again.
Reports from Eritreans living in Ethiopia indicate that telephone services, which had been operational since July 2018, were abruptly cut off on October 8, 2024.
An Eritrean resident in Ethiopia, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, expressed concern, stating, “I have not been able to make a call to any landline since Tuesday afternoon.”
This suspension is particularly challenging for Eritreans, as internet service is limited in Eritrea, and landline phones have been one of the only reliable means of communication with family members back home.
Another Eritrean resident commented, “It is unfortunate that steps are being taken that harm the relationship between the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.”
The individual further added, “We don’t know which government is responsible for this ban.”
During the weekly diplomatic press briefing, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nebiat Getachew, refrained from giving a direct response to a question regarding the recent suspension of telephone services between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
When asked to comment on the issue, Ambassador Nebiat emphasized that the overall relationship between the two countries remains unchanged.
In his response, Ambassador Nebiat stated, “The relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea is still in good condition.” He did not, however, provide specific details on the communication service disruption or address whether it had any implications for diplomatic ties between the two nations. His remarks appeared to downplay concerns that the recent telecommunications suspension signified a deterioration in the bilateral relationship.
The Eritrean government has also yet to issue any official statement on the matter.
This latest disruption follows another significant development in Ethiopia-Eritrea relations. Ethiopian Airlines suspended all flights to Eritrea in August 2024, citing deteriorating conditions in the country.
The airline officially halted flights between Addis Ababa and Asmara on September 3, 2024, referencing the “difficult and uncontrollable situation” in Eritrea as the primary reason for canceling its services.
A month before the flight suspension, the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority accused Ethiopian Airlines of “organized and systematic theft of luggage, unreasonable price increases, harassment, and failure to compensate passengers traveling to Asmara.”
In response, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, denied these allegations and emphasized the airline’s commitment to resolving the issue through constructive dialogue with Eritrean aviation authorities.
As tensions between the two nations rise, the future of essential services such as air travel and telecommunications remains uncertain, raising concerns about the impact on the lives of ordinary citizens in both countries.
