Egypt's embassy at Ethiopia advises expats to exercise caution following Tigray forces' advances

CAIRO – 3 November 2021: The Egyptian Embassy at Addis Ababa advised expats Wednesday to exercise caution after Ethiopian authorities had declared Tuesday the state of emergency.

The embassy urged – on social media - members of the Egyptian community to limit their movements, stick to the Ethiopian government's instructions, and always carry their identity documents. That is in addition to steering clear from crowds and remote areas.

The Egyptian embassy's warnings followed the U.S. call on its citizens to prepare for leaving Ethiopia after Tigray forces had captured two towns and had been advancing toward the capital.

The two towns are Dessie and Kombolcha, and both are located in the Amhara Region housing the largest ethnicity in Ethiopia. According to the Guardian, the former fell on Sunday while the latter was seized on Monday.

The conflict between Tigray and the federal government has been ongoing since November 1, 2020, as a result of the former's objection of the postponement of elections, and the marginalization of politicians affiliated to the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF), that used to be an integral part of the consecutive governments for decades.