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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Thousands of people in towns and cities across Ethiopia demonstrated Saturday against what they say is outside interference in the country’s internal affairs.
The rallies included one in the federal capital, Addis Ababa, where many of these events have been held in the nearly two years since war broke out in the country’s northern Tigray region.
Some demonstrators held banners accusing the United States of disrespecting Ethiopia’s sovereignty, while others blamed Tigray’s fugitive leader.
The Addis Ababa rally is organized by the city government.
Speaking of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Addis Ababa Deputy Mayor Jantilal Abai said: “We are eager to reassure the world that we are always on his side and support the government’s commitment to us. A call for sovereignty.” “We oppose any threat and interference with Ethiopian unity, and we demand that the interfering countries cease.”
The demonstrations come ahead of the warring parties expected to start peace talks in South Africa next week. The United States said on Friday it supported the African Union’s efforts to mediate talks to end the fighting in Tigray.
Diplomats were alarmed by reports of civilian casualties in the area as Ethiopian federal forces took control of the main town of Shire this week, and the federal government said it aimed to take control of Tigray’s airports and institutions. The Eritrean army fought alongside the Ethiopian federal army in Tigray.
U.S. officials have called for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray and urged all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire. USAID Administrator Samantha Ball described the human cost of the conflict as “staggering”.
The Associated Press reported Friday Dozens of women and girls raped Hundreds of civilians were killed in the fighting, which resumed in August after calm. According to an internal document prepared by the Tigray Regional Emergency Coordination Centre, which includes regional government agencies, the United Nations Institutions and NGOs.
The UN Security Council discussed the conflict in Ethiopia in a closed meeting on Friday, but made no statement due to disagreements among its 15 members.
Diplomats said Norway and the three African members of the Security Council – Kenya, Gabon and Ghana – presented a statement expressing “grave concern” over reports of intensifying fighting in Tigray, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and Urge all parties to recommit to dialogue. But Russia and China blocked its approval, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.
“In the past week alone, we have seen a serious uptick in fighting and violence,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement Friday. “The scale of fighting and deaths matches what we have seen in Ukraine. Innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire.”
The conflict, which began in November 2020, has spread from Tigray to the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions as Tigray’s leaders tried to break the blockade of the area.
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