Tigray: the Ethiopian government remains firm against the Pope, the G7 and Washington
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in November 2020 (Illustrative image).
© Mulugeta Ayene / AP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In one week, the legislative elections will be held several times postponed in Ethiopia, as the country is increasingly isolated diplomatically due to the situation in Tigray.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on his fellow citizens to participate in the ballot.
His government has rejected calls for de-escalation from the G7, the United States, the European Union and Pope Francis.
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The United States and the European Union once again called for a humanitarian ceasefire on Thursday. And on Sunday, it was the G7 heads of state who "
urged
" the belligerents to "
an immediate cessation of hostilities
", "
unhindered humanitarian access
", "
the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces
" and a "
more political process. broad and inclusive
”.
On the same day,
Pope Francis
, from St. Peter's Square in Rome, declared that the Catholic faithful were "
close
" to the Tigrayans and hoped "
that the violence will cease immediately, that food and care will be guaranteed to all and that social harmony will be restored as soon as possible
”.
Call to vote for legislative elections
But Ethiopia remains unmoved.
Only the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry reacted to the US-European statements, and said it was "
disappointed
" by the efforts "
aimed at undermining the unity, territorial integrity and cohesion of the Ethiopian state, under the guise of humanitarian concern.
".
Abiy Ahmed meanwhile made a long speech on Sunday, at a public event, without alluding to these criticisms.
He simply called on Ethiopians to vote massively next Monday, for “
the first free and fair elections
” ever held in the country.
►Also read: Ethiopia: the authorities deny the famine in Tigray
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Ethiopia
Pope Francis
Abiy Ahmed
United States
European Union
Diplomacy
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