UN Security Council expresses deep concern over military clashes in Ethiopia

CAIRO – 5 November 2021: The United Nation Security Council expressed its deep concern, Friday, over the expansion of military clashes in Ethiopia.

In a draft statement, the security council called on all parties to refrain from ‘hate speech and incitement to violence’

It also expressed concern over the impact of the conflict on the humanitarian situation and stability in Ethiopia.

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, Friday.

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.