Rubio urges restraint as Ethiopia and Eritrea tensions escalate

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for de-escalation in the Horn of Africa amid renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Rubio spoke by phone with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday, urging dialogue under a peace deal agreed between the two countries in 2018. He said the region could not tolerate more conflict, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region in recent weeks has effectively shattered a 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year war. Ethiopia has accused Eritrean troops of occupying parts of its territory, while Eritrea condemned Ethiopia for what it called a declaration of war. In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of deploying troops across the border and said Ethiopia was taking measures in self defence.

Human Rights Watch has received reports of civilians killed and injured by shelling in southern Tigray. The group's deputy Africa director, Laetitia Bader, called for independent monitoring, restored communications and safe humanitarian access. She said shelling had also forced some health facilities to close, though her account did not identify who carried out the shelling. Near the border, Eritrean soldiers reportedly withdrew from Fatsi, about 20 kilometres from the Ethiopian border town of Zalambessa, with Ethiopian federal forces moving into the town later the same day.

Rubio urges restraint as Ethiopia and Eritrea tensions escalate — Image: Clickorlando

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Rubio urges restraint over Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions as rights group reports civilians killedU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling for de-escalation in the Horn of Africa amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia.Clickorlando · 15 Oct, 10:29
Rubio urges restraint over Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions as rights group reports civilians killedU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling for de-escalation in the Horn of Africa amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia.News4Jax · 15 Oct, 10:29

In this story: Marco Rubio · Abiy Ahmed · Ethiopia · Eritrea · Tigray · Human Rights Watch · Gedion Timothewos

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