Washington orders its non-essential diplomats to leave Ethiopia

The United States on Saturday ordered its non-essential diplomats at the US embassy in Ethiopia and their family members to leave the country as fighting escalated this week in the north between government forces and Tigray rebels who threaten to advance into the capital.

The US State Department said in a statement that the decision was taken "due to the armed conflict, civil unrest, and potential shortages" of essential items.

In recent days, a number of embassies, including the missions of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, have asked their nationals to leave Ethiopia.

"There are sacrifices to be made, but these sacrifices will save Ethiopia," Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wrote in a short message on Twitter.

"We faced adversity and obstacles, and this made us stronger... We have more allies than those who turned against us," he added.

For its part, the Government Communications Office confirmed in a tweet on Twitter, "It is an honor for us to die for our sovereignty, unity and identity. No affiliation with Ethiopia without sacrifices."

These statements come a day after an alliance of nine rebel organizations from different regions and ethnicities in Ethiopia announced the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which has been fighting government forces for more than a year.

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