US urges American citizens to depart Ethiopia over insecurity due to armed conflict

CAIRO – 5 November 2021: The US Embassy in Addis Ababa called on American citizens to not travel to Ethiopia and consider departing now over insecurity due to the ongoing armed conflict.

“Do not travel to Ethiopia due to armed conflict, civil unrest, communications disruptions, crime, and the potential for terrorism and kidnapping in border areas,” the Embassy said.

The Embassy said travel to Ethiopia has become unsafe at the moment due to the ongoing armed conflict.

“Incidents of civil unrest and ethnic violence may occur without warning,” the Embassy added.

The Embassy also expected further escalation of the conflict and a probability of a consequent supply chain shortages, communications blackouts and travel disruptions.

The Embassy said it has limited ability to provide emergency services to the American citizens outside of the Ethiopian capital.

It added that its personnel are even currently restricted from traveling outside of the city limits of Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the UN Human Rights Office released a report on Wednesday, revealing violations by all parties in the Tigray conflict of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, and possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Facebook has deleted a tweet by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, where he urged citizens to “bury” the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in Tigray.

The tweet was deleting for violating the Facebook terms related to violence incitement.

Ahmed called on people in the tweet to “temporarily hold occasional affairs and organize and march through legal manner with every weapon and power/might in order to prevent, reverse and bury the terrorist TPLF that has come to the destruction.”

“This great nation has not overcome great historical challenges by standing and watching on the sides or being content with just a few victories. We have defeated the attacks by standing together and standing guard with perseverance for our country,” he added.

Ethiopian authorities have recently declared a state of emergency nationwide, calling for people to take up arms to defend the Ethiopian capital.

As per the Tigray conflict, hundreds of thousands have been displaced and the region was brought to the brink of famine.