Tuesday ” 9″ November “2021” ALJAZERA
UN says it submitted request to Ethiopia’s foreign ministry to immediately release those detained in Addis Ababa.
The United Nations said 16 of its national staff have been detained in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa while another six have been released.
“We are, of course, actively working with the Government of Ethiopia to secure their immediate release,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York on Tuesday.
UN security officials have visited the detained staff, a spokesperson told Reuters news agency.
There was no immediate comment by the Ethiopian government, which has been battling forces from the northern Tigray region for a year.
Tensions between Ethiopia’s government and the UN have been high throughout the war, which has left thousands dead and, according to UN estimates, pushed hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions.
In late September, the government had ordered the expulsion of seven senior UN officials from the country for “meddling” in its internal affairs.
The detentions in Addi犀利士 s Ababa followed the declaration of a six-month nationwide state of emergency last week after Tigrayan and Oromo rebels claimed major advances on the ground, raising fears of a march on the capital.
Foreign envoys and the UN are now hoping that a fresh push led by the African Union will lead to a ceasefire.
UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths on Tuesday called for peace following a weekend visit to Tigray’s regional capital Mekelle where he met leaders from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group.
“I implore all parties to heed the UN Secretary-General’s appeal to immediately end hostilities without preconditions, and reiterate the (UN’s) full support” for the AU’s efforts, he said.
Jeffrey Feltman, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, held late-night talks on Monday with his AU counterpart, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, after meeting top Ethiopian officials last week, the State Department said.
“We believe there is a small window of opening to work with (Obasanjo),” spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.
“We have engaged with the TPLF as well,” Price said.
Several countries have urged their citizens to leave Ethiopia while commercial flights are still available.
The US embassy has also ordered non-essential staff to leave and the UN has suspended non-essential missions to Addis Ababa.
Britain on Tuesday advised nationals to leave Ethiopia, citing a deteriorating security situation
“The conflict has potential to escalate and spread quickly and with little warning,” the advisory said.
Among African nations, Zambia repatriated 31 workers from its embassy in Addis Ababa, following an order by President Hakainde Hichilema to evacuate citizens.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray in November 2020 to topple the TPLF, the former regional ruling party that dominated national politics before he took over in 2018.
Winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, Abiy promised a swift victory, but by June the TPLF had retaken most of Tigray before expanding into the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar.
The TPLF and its allies, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) have claimed several victories in recent weeks, taking towns about 400km (250 miles) from the capital, and they have not ruled out marching on Addis Ababa.
The government says the rebels are greatly exaggerating their gains but has ordered the capital to prepare to defend itself
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
A UN spokesperson said the UN had submitted a request to Ethiopia’s foreign ministry to immediately release those detained in Addis Ababa [Tiksa Negeri/Reuters