Tens of thousands of Ethiopians demonstrated in Addis Ababa today to show support for the government of Prime Minister Abi Ahmed as federal troops fight rebel forces threatening to advance into the capital.
Protesters have denounced the United States, which is among the foreign powers that have called for a ceasefire, while a year-long war that has claimed thousands of lives has intensified with rebels making profits over the weekend.
The United States, the UN Security Council, the African Union, Kenya and Uganda have recently called for a ceasefire.
The Abyssinian government has vowed to continue fighting. On Friday, the government said it had a responsibility to ensure the country’s security and urged its international partners to stand by Ethiopia.
Some of the protesters gathered in Meskel Square, in the center of Addis Ababa, were covered with the national flag.
“Shame on you, USA,” read one placard, while another said the United States must stop “sucking the blood of Ethiopia.”
Protesters also expressed outrage at Washington’s call for the government to begin talks with the Popular Liberation Front (TPLF).
The conflict in the north of the country began a year ago, when forces close to the TPLF occupied military bases in the Tigray region. In response, Abby sent troops, who initially drove the TPLF from the regional capital Meckele, but the situation was completely reversed in June this year.
“Why is the US government not negotiating with terrorists like Al Shabab?” Asked Tigist Lema, 37, referring to the al-Qaeda-linked Somali extremist group.
“They want to destroy our country as they did in Afghanistan. They will never succeed, we are Ethiopians.”
The war has cost thousands of lives, forced more than 2 million people to flee their homes and left 400,000 people in Tigray facing famine.
The insurgents claim to have occupied various strategically important cities in recent days and do not rule out the possibility of advancing on Addis Ababa.
The government denies any guerrilla gains and any threat to the capital, although it declared a state of emergency last Tuesday, and Addis Ababa authorities urged residents to organize to defend the city.
Pope Francis calls for peace talks
Pope Francis today called for intensified diplomatic efforts to end the escalation of the conflict in Ethiopia.
The pope said he was watching “with concern” the latest developments in Ethiopia, “shocked by a conflict that has lasted more than a year, causing numerous casualties and a serious humanitarian crisis.”
“I reiterate my call for the brotherly unity and the peaceful path of dialogue to prevail,” he said in front of the faithful who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Sunday prayers.
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
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Source From: Capital
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