“The conflict in Ethiopia is rapidly deteriorating. In the coming days we may see fighting approaching Addis Ababa, which could severely limit the options available to British nationals to leave Ethiopia,” the British government’s African Affairs Minister Vicki Ford said in a statement.
She continued: “I urge all British nationals, whatever their circumstances, to depart immediately, while commercial flights are readily available and Addis Ababa International Airport remains open. Interest-free loans are available to help British nationals return, where they may struggle to afford the costs.” flights”.
“Those who choose not to leave now must make preparations to take shelter in a safe place for the coming weeks. We cannot guarantee that there will be options to leave Ethiopia in the future,” the minister explained.
Thus, Britain followed the example of other countries, led by the United States, which called on its citizens more than once to leave Ethiopia, amid fears of a deteriorating security situation there.
Relations between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray Liberation Front were strained, and a year ago a war broke out in the Northern Territory, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, the displacement of millions and the suffering of at least 400,000 people from starvation.
But Tigrayan forces have regained control of most of the region and are now advancing south and east into the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions, threatening the capital and a transport corridor linking landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti, the region’s main port.
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