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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.

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