Blinken Urges Speedy Negotiations over Ethiopia Military Escalation
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed joins the national army on the front lines, while the US expresses concern regarding Ethiopia's military escalation.
A US State Department Spokesperson said that the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is greatly concerned about Ethiopia's military escalation, calling for urgent negotiations over the crisis.
The remarks came just hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed joined the national army on the front lines.
"Secretary Blinken expressed grave concern about worrying signs of military escalation in Ethiopia and emphasized the need to urgently move to negotiations," said Ned Price, the Spokesperson.
Price released the statement following a phone call between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Blinken.
On Friday, Ethiopia's state-owned Fana Broadcasting reported that Abiy was fighting Tigrayan forces in the northeastern Afar region with the army. Abiy shared the same video on his Twitter account.
የምንፈልገው ወይ ኢትዮጵያዊ መሆን ወይም ኢትዮጵያ መሆን ነው:: pic.twitter.com/4OVCiXk5t2
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) November 26, 2021
What is happening?
The central Ethiopian government has been engaged, for a year now, in an extended conflict with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
Earlier in November, the Ethiopian parliament declared a six-month state of emergency throughout the country to protect civilians from TPLF fighters advancing on the country's capital, Addis Ababa.
As a result of the developments, several countries have evacuated their diplomatic missions from Ethiopia.
PM Abiy Ahmed arrived at the frontline this week to lead the troops fighting the TPLF, amid fears of partition and famine.