Ethiopia on Thursday said it is expelling seven United Nations (UN) officials for allegedly interfering in its internal affairs. The move comes as the UN has been critical of the Ethiopian government’s blockade of the Tigray region, which has halted the flow of medicine, food, and fuel.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry declared seven individuals working for various UN humanitarian organisations “persona non grata,” including the heads of UNICEF and OCHA, and accused them of “meddling in the country’s internal affairs.” The Ministry gave the UN staff a 72-hour ultimatum to leave Ethiopia.
.@mfaethiopia declared ”persona non grata” for seven individuals who have been working for some #UN humanitarian agencies in #Ethiopia for meddling in the internal affairs of the country. They must leave the country within the next 72 hrs. 30 September 2021 pic.twitter.com/IDHv6AD145
— MFA Ethiopia🇪🇹 (@mfaethiopia) September 30, 2021
The government has previously criticised the UN, international media, and rights organisations for supporting the Tigray People’s Liberation Forces (TPLF) rebels and distorting facts to present a false narrative. The latest move is the most significant action Ethiopia has taken against criticism of its handling of the Tigray conflict.
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “shocked” by the Ethiopian government’s actions. “All UN humanitarian operations are guided by the core principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. In Ethiopia, the UN is delivering lifesaving aid […] to people in desperate need,” he noted.
Furthermore, he expressed “full confidence” in the UN staff working in Ethiopia and said the UN is “committed” to help Ethiopians that rely on humanitarian assistance. “We are now engaging with the Government of Ethiopia in the expectation that the concerned UN staff will be allowed to continue their important work,” he added.
The United States (US) also condemned the decision to expel the UN staffers. Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded “an immediate reversal” of the decision and called the expulsion “counterproductive” to international efforts to alleviate the Tigray crisis. Additionally, he warned that the US “will not hesitate” to impose sanctions on “those who obstruct humanitarian assistance” to Ethiopians. “We call on the international community similarly to employ all appropriate tools to apply pressure on the Government of Ethiopia and any other actors impeding humanitarian access,” he said.
Moreover, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki condemned the move in “the strongest possible terms” and urged the UN Security Council to “take urgent action” against the Ethiopian government. “Depriving your citizens of the basic means of survival is unacceptable,” she said. Psaki also accused Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of not being interested in peace.
The US has previously accused Abiy’s government of blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid to Tigray and the Ethiopian military and the TPLF of committing grave human rights abuses in Tigray. In fact, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order last month threatening sanctions on all parties involved in perpetuating the conflict.
Also Read: The Tigray Conflict Cannot Be Resolved So Long as Both Sides See Themselves Winning
Since November last year, Ethiopia has been in the middle of a severe humanitarian and political crisis after PM Abiy ordered a military response to an attack on a federal army camp in Tigray by the TPLF, declared a “terrorist” organisation. The fighting quickly boiled over into a full-scale armed invasion by Ethiopian troops, who partnered with Eritrean soldiers in their operation.
The conflict in Tigray has killed thousands and displaced over two million besides grave human rights violations, including mass killings, rapes, and deliberate starvation. Both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF have accused each other of committing atrocities.