The Ethiopian government did not appreciate statements made Monday at a press conference in Washington by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken after his stay in Ethiopia, insinuating that “war crimes” had been committed. committed by the various warring parties during the Tigray war.
Blinken points the finger both at pro-government forces and its allies and at Tigrayan rebels who are allegedly guilty of crimes, according to a “thorough investigation” conducted by his country.
“The conflict in northern Ethiopia has been devastating. Men, women and children were killed. Women and girls have been subjected to unprecedented forms of sexual violence. Thousands of people have been forcibly displaced. Entire communities have been targeted because of their ethnic origin,” lamented the head of American diplomacy.
Reacting to these comments, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that “the government of Ethiopia does not accept the general condemnations contained” in the American statement.
For Ethiopian diplomacy, this statement “is selective because it distributes responsibilities unfairly among the parties” and adopts a “unilateral and antagonistic” approach.
Addis Ababa believes that the United States “appears to exonerate one of the parties from certain charges of human rights violations, such as rape or sexual violence despite clear and overwhelming evidence of his guilt”; allusion made to the rebels.
Ethiopia considers that Blinken’s remarks are not to support the peace agreement signed with the regional authorities of Tigray, on November 2, 2022 in Pretoria (South Africa), under the aegis of the African Union (AU ), to put an end to the conflict between them since November 2020.
“While Ethiopia is implementing the peace process, such a division of responsibilities is unwarranted and undermines US support for an inclusive peace process in Ethiopia,” said Ethiopian diplomacy.
While the American diplomat urged the governments of Ethiopia, its allies, as well as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) “to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities”, Addis Ababa expressed its desire to “continue to put in place all measures to hold those responsible to account, including completing the national consultation on transitional justice and ensuring that justice is served for all victims.”
By OMA Newsletter No. 1100 of 03/22/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
