US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Friday Ethiopia was at risk “l’implosion“, which would lead to devastating unrest for the region if the government and the rebels did not hold talks.
A lack of agreement between the parties “would lead to the implosion of Ethiopia and have consequences on other countries in the region, and it would also be disastrous for the Ethiopian people and the countries of the region“, he estimated with journalists.
“The other option is to stop all current military actions, sit down at a table to negotiate a real ceasefire allowing humanitarian aid access to all areas where the population needs it.“continued Mr. Blinken.
“I believe that it remains not only possible but necessary“, added the head of American diplomacy, stressing that Washington was working to promote this path.
The US Secretary of State, who will visit Ethiopia’s neighboring Kenya next week, also reiterated his support for the peace efforts of the African Union envoy for the region, Olusegun Obasanjo.
In parallel, the United States on Friday imposed sanctions against the ruling party in Eritrea and the Eritrean army, accused of threatening the integrity of Ethiopia by fueling the deadly conflict in the north of the country.
“We condemn the continued role of Eritrean actors who contribute to the violence in northern Ethiopia, which threatens the stability and integrity of that country and causes a humanitarian catastrophe.“, said in a statement Andrea Gacki, principal in charge of the sanctions within the American Treasury.
–
