Ethiopia: US sanctions against an Eritrean general accused of abuses in Tigray

In a camp for displaced people at the Kisanet site, in Mekele, capital of Tigray, Ethiopia.

May 2021. © RFI / Sébastien Németh

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The United States announced on Monday, August 23, sanctions against a senior Eritrean military official, General Filipos Woldeyohannes.

He is accused by Washington of abuses attributed to the Eritrean forces in the conflict in Tigray.

The latter intervened from the start of the conflict in this Ethiopian province to support Addis Ababa against the TPLF rebels.

Advertising

Read more

For Washington, General Filipos Woldeyohannes, " 

Chief of Staff of the Eritrean armed forces, is responsible for serious abuses committed by his troops in the conflict in Tigray

 ", indicates in a statement the American Treasury which affirms that

the Eritrean army

There, she is accused of massacres, looting and sexual assault.

Soldiers raped, tortured and executed civilians.

All property belonging to this general in the United States " 

is now blocked

 " and American citizens are prohibited from doing business with him.

Eritrea rejects

American

blackmail 

"

Washington urges Eritrea to withdraw from Ethiopia and calls on parties to the conflict to end human rights violations and negotiate a ceasefire.

Eritrea immediately reacted rejecting the US accusations, calling them "completely baseless allegations."

"And" 

blackmail 

".

Last May, Washington had already imposed travel restrictions on several members of the Eritrean government and armed forces for their involvement in Tigray.

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Ethiopia

  • Eritrea

  • United States