Ethiopia: concern of the United States for the classified site of Lalibela under Tigrayan control

Detail of one of the eleven rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia, listed as World Heritage of Humanity.

EDUARDO SOTERAS AFP / File

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

In Ethiopia, Tigrayan rebels have taken control of Lalibela, in the Ahmara region.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this site is famous for its rock-cut churches.

Washington called, last Thursday evening, to "protect this cultural heritage".

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Lalibela is one of the first twelve sites classified as World Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 1978. It is made up of eleven religious buildings, built 800 years ago and still used today by the faithful of the Ethiopian Christian Church.

These

rock-cut churches,

on which teams of archaeologists have been working for years, constitute a fragile heritage and retain a share of mystery.

► Also to listen:

Lalibela, series of Africa reports

(restoration 1, restoration 2, restoration 3)

Appeal to belligerents

US diplomacy spokesman Ned Price, joined by

Christina Okello

of the Africa service, appealed to the TPLF.

" 

We call on the TPLF, the Amhara Regional Forces, the Eritrean Defense Forces, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and the regional militias associated with the conflict to end this crisis and achieve a ceasefire. negotiated. 

Lalibela is part of Ethiopia's very rich, varied and unique cultural heritage, and it is something that should bring all Ethiopians together.

We have seen the information showing that the Tigrayan forces have taken control of Lalibela and we call on the TPLF to protect this cultural heritage.

We also call on all parties to the conflict to end the violence in order to achieve a negotiated ceasefire.

We also call on the TPLF to immediately withdraw its forces and those of its allies from the Amhara region and that of Afar.

 "

The spokesman for American diplomacy also called on the Amhara regional authorities to withdraw their forces from Tigray and on Eritrea to " 

permanently withdraw its military forces from Ethiopia

 ".

The Church of Saint-George, a masterpiece carved out of a block in the volcanic rock of Lalibela, in the Amhara region, in northern Ethiopia.

© RFI / Vincent Dublange

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