US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday of the risks to Ethiopia's unity if no ceasefire is reached between the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and opposing forces in the Tigray and Amhara regions of the country.
The US is involved in negotiations to reach a cessation of hostilities in the conflict between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which broke out last year.
“We are deeply concerned about escalating violence, the expansion of fighting throughout the country and what we see as a growing risk to the unity and to the integrity of the state,” Mr Blinken said during his first official visit to Kenya.
The conflict has killed thousands of people and left observers shocked after Mr Abiy, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, teamed up with former enemy Eritrea to wage war on the TPLF.
Mr Blinken said any ceasefire deal would have to include lifting the humanitarian blockade on Tigray and the release of detainees.
“We need to see humanitarian assistance flow freely now. We need to see people detained released and we need to see everyone engaging in an effort to resolve the differences that exist peacefully and constitutionally,” Mr Blinken said in a press conference with his Kenyan counterpart Raychelle Omamo.
Ms Omamo saw potential for a breakthrough in the ongoing negotiations, saying: “We believe in the potential of Ethiopia to find a resolution to this crisis; we believe that a ceasefire is possible.”
Kenya is one of the key interlocutors in the Ethiopian conflict. On Sunday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta made a surprise visit to Addis Ababa where he held closed-door talks with Mr Abiy and other officials.
African Union envoy Olusegun Obasanjo made two trips to Ethiopia this month and held meetings with the government and the TPLF.
US envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman has recently returned from Addis Ababa on a regional trip intended to boost Mr Obasanjo's efforts.
But despite diplomatic efforts, the situation has not improved on the ground. Mass detentions of Tigrayans by the Ethiopian government and military advances by the TPLF and Omoro forces have been reported this week.
On Tuesday, the UN said the Ethiopian government has detained more than 1,000 people, mostly ethnic Tigrayans, in a widespread crackdown on supporters of Tigray's liberation movement.
The Associated Press said one US citizen and a number of British nationals are among those who have been detained.
The US, concerned of the risk of all-out civil war, has reiterated its call for its citizens to leave Ethiopia.
“Leave now while commercial flights are still available and while it is safe to do so,” a senior US official said on a call with reporters on Tuesday.
The administration of US President Joe Biden sanctioned six Eritrean officials and entities last week for their role in the conflict.
Reports of gang rapes, the destruction of health centres, the burning of crops, extrajudicial killings and forced expulsions have heightened the risk of famine and starvation in northern Ethiopia.
Only 7 per cent of the necessary assistance is reaching the region and food aid inside Tigray has now run out, the US Agency for International Development said this month.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
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