Washington Urges US Nationals to Leave Ethiopia amid Chaos
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The US calls on its nationals in Ethiopia to consider leaving the country on account of the security threats in multiple provinces, including the capital.
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The US Embassy has banned its staff from traveling outside of Addis Ababa
The US has called on US nationals in Ethiopia to consider leaving the country, as the security situation in the country is deteriorating, with military clashes ongoing between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and government forces, calling on both sides of the conflict to engage in dialogue and cease human rights abuses.
The US Embassy in Addis Ababa posted on its Facebook page that the "security environment" in Ethiopia has "deteriorated significantly in the last several days, with a continued escalation of armed conflict and civil unrest in Amhara, Afar, and Tigray."
The post added that "a significant portion of the A2 highway connecting Addis Ababa with cities to the north has been restricted by Federal authorities which has led to disruptions, stranded travelers, and a generally non-permissive travel environment."
The Embassy banned its staff from traveling outside city limits, calling on US citizens to seriously reconsider travel there, and on those currently in Ethiopia to "consider making preparations to leave the country."
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell expressed his concern over the state of emergency in Ethiopia, announcing the Union's refusal of any attack by the TPLF and the Oromo Force on Addis Ababa, the capital.
Borrell added that the mobilization that Ethiopian authorities called for "will only drag the country and its citizens further into civil war and disintegration."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all parties to cease battles in Ethiopia immediately.
These warnings come hours after the TPLF announced it joined Oromo forces to fight government forces, threatening to march on Addis Ababa.
