Ethiopia must restore the rule of law in Tigray
“It is essential to quickly restore the rule of law, in full respect for human rights” in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, UN Secretary General António Guterres has said.
In a brief statement he added that he was “very concerned about the current situation” in the region after four weeks of fighting between federal troops and the forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
More than 40,000 people have fled across the border to Sudan and many others may have been forced from their homes.
Within Tigray itself it is thought that there are many people in need of humanitarian aid and Mr Guterres asked for “unfettered humanitarian access”.
Last week the Ethiopian authorities said that they would open up a corridor for aid workers.
It is difficult to get verified information from the region as a communications blackout in much of the area is still in place.
In his most recent statement on Tigray, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the aim of the federal government was to “restore law and order” there and detain TPLF leaders.
He once again rejected any idea of negotiating with the TPLF leadership.
The European Union’s foreign affairs representative has also called for humanitarian access
