Abiy Ahmed Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Credit: twitter.com)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The year-long civil war in Ethiopia has reached a crisis point as several rebel groups advance toward the Horn of Africa nation’s capital city Addis Ababa threatening to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Thousands of opposition forces are reportedly just 200 miles of Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union. The bloody conflict is said to have killed thousands of people, displaced millions, and created starvation for hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians. The U.S. Special Envoy for Horn Africa Jeffrey Feltman was dispatched to Ethiopia this week to meet with government officials to call on them to negotiate a ceasefire.
“Special Envoy Feltman, he’s in Ethiopia. And while there, he’s continuing to press all parties to de-escalate the conflict and negotiate a ceasefire. He also continues to raise concerns about the risk of intercommunal violence and we continue to work with international partners to address the crisis in Ethiopia, and that includes through action at the UN, the AU, and other relevant bodies as well. “
-State Department Spokesperson Jalina Porter said at a press briefing Friday Nov. 5, 2021.
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken Calls on All Forces to Lay Down Their Arms
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Credit: Department of State)
“As the conflict in Ethiopia marks a full year, Ethiopian leaders – both inside and outside government and from across the country – face an urgent need to act immediately and alleviate the suffering of the Ethiopian people. We are also concerned about reports of arbitrary detentions based on ethnicity in Addis Ababa. With the safety and security of millions in the balance, and more than 900,000 facing conflict-induced famine-like conditions, we prevail upon all forces to lay down their arms and open dialogue to maintain the unity and integrity of the Ethiopian state. We call on the Government of Ethiopia to halt its military campaign, including air strikes in population centers in Tigray and mobilization of ethnic militias. We call on the Government of Eritrea to remove its troop from Ethiopia. We call on the forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) to immediately stop the current advance towards Addis Ababa. All parties must also allow and facilitate humanitarian access so that life-saving assistance can reach people in need. “
-U.S. Secretary of State Blinken statement November 4.
Ethiopia urges ex-soldiers to join fight against Tigray rebels – BBC
Ethiopia’s military has called on former soldiers to re-join the army, as it battles to hold off a rebel advance, the BBC reported Friday.
Opposition Rebel Alliance TPLF and OROMO Liberation Army Formed Against PM Ahmed
Meanwhile, an opposition rebel alliance formed includes the TPLF and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Speaking in Washington, a Tigrayan representative and former Ethiopian ambassador to the US, Berhane Gebre-Christos, said the aim was to oust Mr Abiy’s government by force or negotiations, and establish an interim administration,” according to the BBC. “The OLA and TPLF have already started fighting alongside each other and this week claimed to have captured the town of Kemise, 325km (200 miles) north of Addis Ababa, on the main road from Tigray to the capital,” the BBC.
