As European governments urge their citizens to leave Ethiopia and expel important diplomats, the EU is increasingly worried that the escalating civil war there may completely disintegrate the country.
An EU diplomatic source familiar with the situation said in an interview with EURACTIV that as the rebels advance to the capital Addis Ababa, foreign citizens are slowly evacuating, and the situation has become “dramatic”.
The source added that the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. “But so far, the EU has remained silent.”
Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched military operations against the insurgents of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front in November last year, Ethiopia has been in violence. The attack occurred after the rebels attacked the military bases of government forces in the northern provinces of the country.
However, despite the fact that the Eritrean army and the Ethiopian Federal Army are fighting side by side, there is no sign that the rebels have achieved military victory, and the rebels have made a series of progress.
A rough estimate is that the death toll exceeds 100,000, and reports of massacres, sexual violence and famine affecting 400,000 people are very common.
France, Ireland and the United Kingdom all urged nationals currently living in Ethiopia to leave the country as soon as possible and warned that the deteriorating security situation could soon lead to the closure of Bole Airport in Addis Ababa.
On Monday, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney stated that four of the six Irish diplomats had been expelled for criticizing the Ethiopian Federal Army for human rights violations and atrocities during the civil war with the Tigray rebels.
The United States has imposed sanctions on political and military figures that it considers responsible for the escalation of war and atrocities. The EU is still considering whether to do the same.
Covini told domestic lawmakers in Dublin that “the EU has no collective position on this, but it is considering its options.”
The European Union, the United States and the wider international community continue to call for an immediate ceasefire. Earlier this week, EU Chief Diplomat Joseph Borrell stated that “this is not the time to advance on the battlefield, but to initiate political dialogue and ease tensions for the benefit of all Ethiopians.”
The European Union has blocked the provision of US$107 million in budget support to Ethiopia, but has stated that it will continue to provide humanitarian assistance, although there are still difficulties in providing assistance to those in need.
In a telephone briefing with reporters earlier this week, the US Horn of Africa special envoy, Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman, warned that the “preliminary progress” in negotiations on a ceasefire between the warring parties in Ethiopia could be “shocking” Surpassed by military development.
“Unfortunately, both parties are trying to achieve their goals through military power and believe that they are on the verge of victory,” he said.
Abiy rejected calls from the international community for a ceasefire and a national dialogue with the TPLF, and instead doubled down on the need to ensure a full military victory over the Tigray rebels.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]
