Ethiopia Urges Washington to Stop Spreading Misinformation on War
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After the US issued a warning against potential "terrorist attacks," the Ethiopian government denounced the US acts of spreading misinformation on the Tigray war.
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Ethiopian demonstrators condemn US intervention in their political affairs.
The Ethiopian Minister of Communication Dagmawit Moges on Thursday requested that Washington stop spreading misinformation about Ethiopia and its war on Tigray. This came after the US Department of State issued a warning about potential "terrorist attacks."
State Minister Kebede Dessisa said the US government should avoid disseminating "shameful fake news and defamation regarding Ethiopia," according to the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to a statement by the US Embassy in Ethiopia, warning citizens of the "possibility of terrorist attacks in Ethiopia," prompting its citizens "to maintain a high level of vigilance."
Addis Ababa has criticized Western governments for the way they've been covering the war, which, according to them, is inaccurate, issuing a warning against external threats whose nature they did not name.
For over a year, Abiy Ahmed's government has been fighting a war with militants in the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, killing thousands and displacing millions.
Rallies against US intervention
Earlier in November, thousands of Ethiopians protested in Addis Ababa in rejection of US interference in Ethiopian internal affairs.
On Thursday, Ethiopians took to the streets nearby the US embassy, holding banners that read "Hands off Ethiopia," "Truth Wins," and "Interference is Undemocratic."
Demonstrations also took place outside the Embassy of the United Kingdom, according to the state-run Ethiopian Press Agency.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland have urged their citizens to leave Ethiopia by commercial flights in the nearest time possible.
Expelling Irish diplomats
Earlier this week, Ethiopia has ordered four of six Irish diplomats working in Addis Ababa to leave the country because of Ireland’s stance on the conflict there, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on the 24th of November, according to AP.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said Ethiopia’s government informed the Irish Embassy in the Ethiopian capital that the four must leave within one week, allowing only the Irish Ambassador and another diplomat to stay.
Coveney added that amid the deteriorating security situation in Ethiopia, the government banned all travel to the country and called on all Irish citizens to leave immediately.
