On Monday 25 January, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU Member States expressed their deep concern about the situation in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, due to the conflict in the Tigray region (see EUROPE 12642/3, 12638/18), but also tensions with neighbouring Sudan.
According to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, “ the situation is very, very worrying”. He gave a detailed report to the ministers on the humanitarian situation and atrocities committed in Tigray, but also on the risk of armed conflict along the border between Sudan and Ethiopia.
“Ministers have analysed the situation in the Horn of Africa, where we urgently need to prevent further destabilisation. We have to put more political pressure in order to settle the dispute through diplomatic and peaceful means”, the High Representative explained to the press at the end of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
That is why he mandated Finland's Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto, to visit the region as an EU envoy at the beginning of February.
“I accepted this mandate with pleasure. I will soon leave with Special Representative [of the EU for the Horn of Africa, Alexander] Rondos, and then I will report to the High Representative”, commented the Finnish minister.
The idea of the mission had been raised as early as 9 January, during a telephone conversation between Mr Borrell and Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke, but no date had been set at the time. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)