Monday, August 17, 2026

U.S. advises citizens to leave Ethiopia as tension escalates

Tigray rebels are threatening to take over Addis by any means possible, including via violence.

• November 6, 2021
U.S Secretary of States Antony Blinken
U.S Secretary of States Antony Blinken (Credit: Financial Times)

Following growing concerns over rising insecurity in Ethiopia, the United States government has advised its citizens resident in Addis Ababa to leave the country as soon as they can.

The US government issued the advice via their website on Friday evening. 

This is coming on the heels of threats by anti-government rebels to march to Addis Ababa where they may unleash violence.

Reacting to the threats, the U.S. warned “The security environment in Ethiopia is very fluid. We advise U.S. citizens who are in Ethiopia to leave the country as soon as possible,” 

The northern Africa nation has seen a year-long breakout of war between rebels in the Tigray region and the national government led by President Abiy Ahmed.

The Gazette on Sunday reported that Facebook took down a post by Mr Ahmed urging citizens to kill and bury the rebels.

Mr Ahmed had asked citizens to take up arms to protect their neighborhoods if the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) advanced on the capital, Addis Ababa.

The situation in Addis Ababa has become more volatile since Mr Ahmed’s encouraging statements asking government supporters to arm themselves.

Despite warnings from the U.S. government to Tigray rebels to desist from taking over the capital, the rebels are determined to overthrow Mr Ahmed’s government by all means.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State

States

Continue to deliver good governance, Obasanjo tells Gov Adeleke

The former president urged Mr Adeleke to remain committed to good governance and delivering the dividends of democracy.

Civil servants waiting at the Osun state secretariat

States

PHOTOS: Hundreds of civil servants storm Osun state secretariat to celebrate Adeleke’s re-election

Hundreds of civil servants occupied the main entrance to the Osun State government secretariat on Monday to welcome Governor Ademola Adeleke, after his re-election.

Edo Assembly speaker Blessing Agbebaku

Politics

Edo assembly speaker Blessing Agbebaku resigns

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, has resigned.

Adeleke, Oyebamiji, Najeem Salaam

Politics

Former presidential candidate says Osun election turning point for Nigeria’s democracy

Ex-presidential candidate Martin Onovo of the National Conscience Party has described the outcome of the Osun governorship election as a turning point for Nigeria’s democracy.

Hamid Joda

Economy

TAJBank’s profit before tax surges 74%, assets reach N1.34 trillion

TAJBank Limited, a non-interest bank, grew its profit before tax by 74 per cent year-on-year, reaching N31.562 billion for the 2025 financial year.

Police

States

Police nab, arraign two Ogun men for assault

Two men, Shele Taiwo, 38, and Adeola Odunayo, 37, appeared before the Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday for assault.