KAMPALA, Uganda — As the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray province entered the tenth month, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali embarked on shuttle diplomacy in East Africa and the Middle East.
Ahmed visited Turkey on Aug. 18 at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a statement from Turkey’s communications directorate said.
“If the situation deteriorates, all countries in the region will be affected,” Erdogan told a joint media appearance with Abiy.
Abiy then traveled to Uganda and Rwanda on Aug. 29 and discussed “issues of mutual significance” with presidents Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Paul Kagame.
He then visited President Macky Sall of Senegal on Sept. 7 and Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo the following day.
“My appreciation to President…Addo for receiving my delegation and I at the Presidential Palace in Accra today to discuss a wide range of issues. Ethiopia and Ghana will work closely on bilateral and African issues of common interest,” he tweeted.
“Ethiopia’s present diplomatic drive in Africa aims to gain support for a new military effort aimed at destroying the TDF [Tigray Defense Forces],” said Rashid Abdi, a Kenya-based Horn of Africa analyst.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” as the conflict spreads to other country regions.
“And the level of human suffering is growing — with serious political, economic and humanitarian implications for Ethiopia and the broader region,” he told the United Nations Security Council on Aug. 26.
He said Tigrayan forces have since expanded into neighboring Amhara and Afar regions where fighting has escalated, drawing in regional armed groups.
“At least 400,000 people are living in famine-like conditions, he said.
Source: Zenger News
