On Thursday, the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs declared seven U.N. humanitarian officials persona non grata. This news comes as a huge setback for the international community as it tries to engage the Ethiopian government to lift the de-facto blockade on the Tigray region and start peace negotiations with the Tigrayan authorities.
With both sides set for more fighting in the coming weeks, the people of Tigray are mired in a man-made disaster. Food warehouses have gone empty while fuel is running out fast. Electricity, clean water, banking, transportation, and other services have ceased since June. In a more concerning dark turn –expected nonetheless – Tigrayans are now dying due to starvation. In some areas worse hit by the food shortages, people are dying by the dozens each day, mostly pregnant women and children.
The delivery of humanitarian aid into Tigray has been severely impeded, much to the chagrin of the U.N. and aid agencies alike. The U.S. and other countries have urged Ethiopian officials to lift the blockade on Tigray to avert famine previously witnessed during 1984-85, which claimed the lives of more than one million people.
Biden administration condemns the expulsions in "strongest possible terms."
It is to be remembered that U.S. president Joe Biden signed an executive order, which allows the United States to levy sanctions on parties prolonging the Tigray conflict. The Biden administration has been unable to get the message through to Arat-kilo that there is no military solution to the Tigray conflict.
On Thursday, white house press secretary Jane Psaki warned 'Washington will not hesitate to use sanctions against those who obstruct humanitarian efforts in the country.'
"The U.S. government condemns in the strongest possible terms the government of Ethiopia's unprecedented action to expel the leadership of all of the United Nations organizations involved in ongoing humanitarian operations," Psaki told reporters at a regular news briefing."
A tweet sent by the secretary of state condemned Ethiopian authorities for the expulsion of the U.N. officials. He also made the point that the U.S. will act decisively if the decision isn't reversed.
USAID director Samantha Power described the decision as 'shocking.' 'Millions of people face desperate need in northern Ethiopia, and the government keeps taking steps to ensure aid won't reach them.'
A barrage of heavy criticism aimed at the Ethiopian government from the U.S. is not new at this stage though. PM Abiy has certainly been alarmed by the barbs cast at his government. This latest episode will sour the already strained US-Ethiopia relation, with PM Abiy unwilling to budge to the demands of the U.N. and other humanitarian groups.
U.N. response
In an interview with A.P., U.N. humanitarian aid chief Martin Griffith said the Tigray war is a 'stain on our conscience.' "That's what keeps people awake at night," Griffiths said, "is worrying about whether that's what is in prospect, and in prospect soon."
Martin visited the Tigray region and met with top Ethiopian government officials to convince them of the urgent humanitarian needs in Tigray. But the state-quo remains – Tigray remains inaccessible to the outside world.
The Ethiopian foreign ministry cited foreign intervention as the reason behind the expulsions. A Bold action by any measure (no country has ever expelled seven U.N. humanitarian officials), but it is part of swelling anti-western propaganda in the grand scheme of things. The UN and other organizations have been victims of baseless accusations by the Ethiopian government in the past months.
The U.N. is firing back, and on Friday warned 'Ethiopia has no legal right to expel seven U.N. officials it accused of "meddling'' in the country's affairs. U.N. secretary-general Antonio Guterres expressed his shock on Twitter, writing, "I am shocked by the information that the Government of Ethiopia has declared seven U.N. officials, including senior U.N. humanitarian officials, as persona non grata."
The secretary-general has recently been notably steadfast in his messaging with regards to Ethiopia. On multiple occasions, U.N. secretary-general Antonio Guterres has called out the Ethiopian government. Last month he claimed that it is practically impossible for the Ethiopian military to claim victory against the Tigrayans, as they have the fighting capability; thus, a peaceful negotiation is the only way for both sides to end hostilities.
"This unprecedented and alarming decision is very much in line with the activities of the Ethiopian regime."
The Tigrayan authorities didn't mince any words- as expected. In a statement that came late last week, the Tigray government condemned the expulsion of the senior U.N. officials, which it claims is consistent with the intent of the GoE – to politicize humanitarian aid.
"We urge the international community to accept this latest assault on established humanitarian norms as irrefutable evidence that the Ethiopian government is committed to its course of action, namely to weaponize starvation against millions of Tigrayans in a bid to annihilate what its leader considers to be a "troublesome" ethnic minority."
The Tigray citizenry is bearing the brunt of the war. And the current projectile of the war doesn't bring any hope of respite for the battered region - all because Addis is not willing to budge on allowing humanitarians do their job of saving lives.
The leaders of Tigray have no option but to bristle as the situation deteriorates further. For them, each passing day brings woe to the people they lead.
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