Top British diplomat urges Tigray rebels to withdraw from Ethiopia’s Afar

ADDIS ABABA – The United Kingdom’s minister for Minister for Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, Vicky Ford, has said that her government welcomes the declaration by the Ethiopian federal government for a unilateral humanitarian truce to allow in aid into the troubled Tigray region.

On Thursday afternoon, Ethiopia’s government communication service announced that Addis Ababa has committed itself to a unilateral truce effective immediately to help in the transportation of aid from neighboring regions to the war-torn Tigray and urged donor community to redouble its efforts.

In a statement, Mrs. Ford says her government strongly supports the government of Ethiopia’s declaration of a humanitarian truce that will allow access into Tigray region and urged the Tigray rebels to ceasefire and withdraw from Afar region.

“Strongly support Government of Ethiopia commitment to humanitarian truce and access to Tigray. Tigrayan authorities should respond by ceasing fire and withdrawing from Afar,” the British minister who is also a lawmaker said.

“This commitment must translate into aid deliveries, which the Government are ready to support,” she added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that his country welcomes the decision by the Ethiopian government to declare cessation of hostility and said the declaration should be followed by movement of life-saving assistance.

“The United States welcomes and strongly supports the declaration today by the Government of Ethiopia of an indefinite humanitarian truce, effective immediately, and the commitment to work in collaboration with humanitarian organizations to expedite the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need,” Blinken said in a statement.

The European Union mission in Addis Ababa welcomed the declaration by the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and said it is ready to support humanitarian efforts in the country.

“The EU welcomes the declaration of a humanitarian truce by the [government] of Ethiopia and the statement on cessation of hostilities by the Tigrayan Authorities,” the EU said in a brief statement on Twitter.

“The EU stands ready to support speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need,” it added.