Ethiopian FM Meets U.S. Special Envoy for Horn of Africa

ADDIS ABABA – Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, on Tuesday met with U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, in Addis Ababa where they discussed on a range of issues including the security situation in northern Ethiopia and Washington’s response.

In a statement, the ministry of foreign affairs said Demeke spoke in detail about the genesis of the TPLF attack on the Northern Command of the National Defense force (ENDF) in Tigray region.

Demeke, who is also the foreign minister of Ethiopia, also talked all the destructive acts of the group leading to the present day, according to the statement.

“The invading force is currently carrying out open invasions, looting and killings in the Afar and Amhara regions,” said Demeke, highlighting the overwhelming humanitarian, economic, and social crimes the group has been committing in northern Ethiopia.

“While committing all these crimes and treason,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, the U.S. Government chose silence which was “uncharacteristic of the fraternal relationship” between the two nations.

Demeke also expressed Ethiopia’s standing expectations that the U.S. would properly condemn the destructive acts of the invading forces in a way that fits the two countries relationship.

The international community should underline that the group has been disturbing the region since its inception, the Deputy Prime Minister further added.

The special envoy, on his part, said the U.S. Government perfectly understands the views of the people of Ethiopia on the TPLF, according to the statement.

“Maintaining, affirming, and sustaining Ethiopia’s sovereignty, peace and unity are the fundamentals of the U.S. Policy on Ethiopia,” the statement quoted Feltman as saying.

Feltman underscored that the relationship between the two countries has regional significance and will continue to be based on these same anchors, according to the statement.

The Special Envoy began his tour to the region in Djibouti where he held talks with the Executive Secretary of the regional bloc, Igad, on Monday.

In Addis, he is expected to hold similar meetings with various government officials during his stay in Ethiopia.