Italy-Ethiopia diplomatic tension

The diplomatic relationship between Italy and Ethiopia has experienced significant friction following the departure of the Italian ambassador, Sem Fabrizi, after ten months in Addis Ababa.

Initial reports indicated that Fabrizi was declared ‘persona non grata’ by the Ethiopian government. This expulsion was allegedly linked to his strict enforcement of embassy protocols, including tighter controls on visas and trade authorizations. Some reports suggested his efforts to curb the smuggling of food, spare parts, and weapons destined for associates of Ethiopian leadership caused friction with government officials. While the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered conflicting accounts, suggesting the move might have been coordinated for personal reasons, the incident raised concerns regarding diplomatic reciprocity.

Subsequent reports clarified that Italy recalled the ambassador following pressure from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. While the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited a lack of ‘chemistry,’ other reports indicated the tension stemmed from Fabrizi’s stance on human rights issues in the Tigray region. This development marks a rare period of tension between Rome and Addis Ababa, occurring despite Italy’s efforts to strengthen bilateral ties through the Mattei Plan.