William Molinié, edited by Antoine Terrel 8:30 am, November 28, 2021
As the rebels approach the capital Addis Ababa, France calls on its nationals to leave Ethiopia "without delay".
200 French people have already left Addis Ababa this week, and a first specially chartered charter is due to land there on Sunday.
Concern is growing in Ethiopia, where a war without images is currently taking place, access to the country being prohibited to journalists and NGOs. At war for more than a year against government forces, the rebels of the Tigray People's Liberation Front have claimed major territorial gains and claim to be moving closer to the capital Addis Ababa. A situation which pushed France to call on its nationals to leave the country "without delay". On the spot, the authorities are preparing an evacuation if the security situation were to deteriorate further.
Two evacuation plans are on the table: flights directly from the capital or via a stopover in Djibouti.
More than 200 French people have already left Addis Ababa this week, but there are still a thousand left.
And on Sunday, the first specially chartered charter must land on the tarmac.
A second is scheduled for Tuesday if necessary.
The evacuation could turn into exfiltration if the Tigrayan rebels get even closer to the Ethiopian capital.
France did not send special forces there
The armies are scrutinizing the action of the United States, which has deployed around fifteen jumbo jets and four Chinook helicopters in Djibouti.
It is they, with 30,000 Americans in the area, who set the diplomatic tempo.
At this stage, France has not sent any special forces there at this stage, which is why we are not talking about an Afghan-type scenario.
However, all eyes are on the Chinese authorities.
No instructions have yet been issued.
China which, with its 15,000 nationals, is very established in Ethiopia.