September 26, 2018 in New York on the sidelines/ AFP
The UN Security Council’s first meeting on the conflict
in Ethiopia’s dissident Tigray region ended without
members issuing a statement Tuesday.
European members forced the closed-door discussion to be held
after African countries pulled out of organizing the meeting at
short notice, highlighting divisions over Security Council action
on the three weeks of fighting.
“South Africa asked for time so that the envoys can conduct
their consultations and refer the matter to the African Union. A
statement could complicate the situation,” an African diplomat said
after the session.
A European diplomat, also speaking on condition of anonymity,
said the Europeans “expressed their concerns, condemned violence of
an ethnic nature and demanded protection of civilians,” during the
session that lasted one hour 20 minutes.
France, Britain, Belgium, Germany and Estonia — backed by the
United States — announced the virtual meeting after South Africa,
Niger, Tunisia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines withdrew their
request because envoys have yet to travel to Ethiopia.
“At a certain moment, we have to put it on the agenda, even if
the Africans don’t like it,” a European diplomat told AFP on
condition of anonymity.
The African Union announced on Friday that three former
presidents had been appointed as special envoys to Ethiopia to help
mediation efforts between the conflicting parties.
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Asked about the Security Council’s lack of decisive action, a UN
spokesman said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supported the
African Union is at the forefront of international efforts.
Forces loyal to Tigray’s ruling party have been battling
Ethiopian soldiers for nearly three weeks.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has ordered the leaders of
the northern region of Tigray to surrender ahead of a
threatened all-out assault on its capital, Mekele.
Abiy launched the military campaign against
the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on November
4, accusing it of attacking two federal military camps in the
region, and of seeking to destabilize his government.
Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed, but a
communications blackout has made claims from both sides difficult
to verify.
Guterres last week called for the opening of humanitarian
corridors to assist civilians caught in the fighting, noting that
authorities had so far rejected attempts at mediation.
Over 40,000 Ethiopians have fled to neighboring Sudan, the UN’s
refugee agency said Monday.
AFP
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