Ethiopia Protests US Intervention

Millions protest in multi-city rallies in Ethiopia Saturday morning . Protesters are condemning what they say is the West's sabotage of peace in the Horn of Africa through support of armed insurgents. Ethiopian American organizer Nebiyu Asfaw joins me to discuss.

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The conflict between the Ethiopian Government, and the TPLF — the old guard which ran the country for 27 years and started a war in November 2020 to take back Addis Ababa — is approaching two years. As Ethiopian National Defense Forces appear to be making advancements in the battlefield, reportedly capturing several towns in Tigray including Shire, Adwa and Axum — officials from the United States and the United Nations are increasingly adamant that the Ethiopian Government must stop its operation.

On Friday, the United Nations Security Council had a closed door meeting to discuss the conflict. Following the meeting, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed disappointment that the Council did not agree to issue a statement, after China and Russia vetoed the resolution proposed by the US and its allies.

What is being presented as peace talks led by the African Union will begin on Monday in South Africa. Many Ethiopians and Eritreans believe the talks are meant to pressure the Ethiopian Government to give concessions to the armed TPLF insurgents, but as the demonstrations across Ethiopia over the weekend show — the people of the country support the disarmament of the insurgents and a restoration of peace. Several protesters held a sign that read “No two Parallel Armies in a Sovereign State.”

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