On Thursday, 19 November, foreign ministers from EU Member States expressed their most pressing concerns regarding the conflict, reported abuses, and human rights violations in the Tigray region.
Fearing an imminent humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia and neighbouring countries, they reiterated their call for dialogue, which High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stressed at the end of the videoconference he chaired that the EU is ready to support (see EUROPE 12604/6).
“The situation in the Tigray region, the ethnic-targeted violence, the allegations of atrocities and human rights abuses are of deep concern. There is a real danger of an imminent and major humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia and the close region. We [...] have reiterated our call for dialogue and to stop violence and return to dialogue”, declared Mr Borrell.
In addition, he told the press that he had informed the ministers of the increased contact that he has had recently with Ethiopian and regional partners attempting a mediation. He reported intensive diplomatic outreach “to stakeholders that could influence the two parties”. To these partners, Mr Borrell expressed the EU’s concerns and readiness “to support a peaceful solution and an inclusive dialogue”.
Ministers were informed by the European Commission of the mobilisation of €4 million in humanitarian aid for Ethiopian refugees in Sudan, the first country to receive them (see other news). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)