Eritrea has demanded the African Union (AU) to take “immediate corrective measures” to restore its representation at the AU Commission headquarters after Ethiopia had expelled diplomats of its northern neighbour.
In a letter sent to the AU and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Thursday, Eritrea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised “a matter of serious concern pertaining to the denial of Eritrea’s membership rights in the African Union,” including the country’s representation and participation in the AU.
“By expelling the Permanent Representative and the entire diplomatic staff assigned to participate in AU and ECA, the Ethiopian Government has effectively deprived the State of Eritrea of its fundamental rights as a Member State to be represented at the AU and UNECA and to participate in their activities,” the letter stated.
The letter said Ethiopia has deprived Eritrea of its fundamental rights as a member state to be represented at the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), after Ethiopia declared 10 Eritrean diplomats based at its embassy in Addis Ababa persona non grata on Oct. 1.
The list included an Eritrean diplomat formally accredited to the AU and UNECA as permanent representative, as well as three diplomatic staff assigned to cover both organizations, the ministry said.
Noting that the AU is an intergovernmental organization founded on the principle of sovereign equality of all members, the ministry said Eritrea’s statutory rights of membership in the AU “cannot be curtailed or compromised at the whim of another member state.”
The Eritrean government called on the AU Commission to urgently bring this matter to the attention of the Executive Council and the Assembly of the AU.
“Eritrea urges the policy organs to take immediate corrective measures to restore Eritrea’s rightful representation at the headquarters of the union and ensure its full participation in the activities of the union as a sovereign and equal member,” it said.
The letter also cited the 1965 General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Organization of African Unity, arguing that the expulsion obstructed Eritrea’s ability to carry out its official mandate at the AU headquarters.
The letter comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea that have triggered a rapid breakdown in relations between the two Horn of Africa nations.
Earlier this month, Ethiopia announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara, the Eritrean capital, “in response to Eritrea’s direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence against Ethiopia,” prompting Eritrea to announce a complete severance of bilateral ties.
MG/as/APA