SPOKESPERSON OF THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY MARIA ZAKHARIVA'S COMMENTARY ON THE SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA
We closely follow the military-political situation in the friendly Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, where recently armed clashes between the government army and units of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have increased.
The TPLF has continued fighting, taking control of several areas not only in Tigray but also in the neighboring provinces of Afar and Amhara, which had not previously been affected by the conflict. Tigray forces have attempted to take control of the strategic road linking Ethiopia and Djibouti, which threatens to worsen the already difficult humanitarian situation and increase the number of refugees and internally displaced persons.
The toxic atmosphere surrounding this conflict created by some international media is also a cause for concern. We believe that the irresponsible comments by some journalists do not contribute to resolving the conflict and only fuel the existing differences, preventing the parties from reaching a mutually acceptable resolution.
We believe that declaring a truce on both sides of the conflict is the only sensible way to stop the bloodshed, improve the humanitarian situation, achieve gradual socio-economic stabilization and return internally displaced persons to their places of permanent residence.
We call on the international community and regional organizations to support the steps taken by the Ethiopian Government to normalize the situation in Tigray in order to return the region to peace and restore normal life. We believe that Ethiopians themselves must play a decisive role in settling the intra-Ethiopian conflict, primarily with the assistance of the African community.
Please wait, video is loading...