Ethiopians living in South Sudan decry “foreign” meddling in conflict back home
By Deng Machol
Ethiopia is in a deep conflict that has threatened to reverse the democratic and social development of the African nation which situated in the horn of Africa.
Fighting which broke out in November 2020 between Ethiopia’s federal troops and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which controls the Amhara region of some six million people has dragged in foreign nations and observers, a situation that citizens living abroad feel is promoting negative agitations on Africa’s oldest democracy.
Thousands have died and more than two million people have been forced to flee their homes.
In South Sudan’s capital Juba, the Ethiopian community, in solidarity with neighboring Eritrean community are protesting the way western countries are handling the situation back home.
Hundreds of Ethiopian and Eritrean nationals organized the “no more meddling” in Ethiopia internal affairs event in Juba capital of South Sudan on Saturday.
This came after the deputy prime minister visit South Sudan this week.
“African independence is under attack,” Daniel Mengistu, who spoke on behalf of the group told the press.
“Some western powers and their media need to respect sovereignty of African countries and shouldn’t threaten the global peace and security,” he said.
“Ethiopian people out of their democratically elected incumbent government has no any need for an external uninvited guardianship.”
Mengistu urged there should be “no more interference to Ethiopia and Africa’s internal affairs and no more destabilization in the name of democracy and fabricated human rights abuses.”
He said his country has full capacity to effectively manage its internal affairs.
The war has dragged on, triggering a humanitarian crisis in Tigray – leaving 400,000 people food-insecure, according to the United Nations.
The UN Human Rights Council voted to establish an international investigation committee, targeting all parties in the civil strife.
Addis Ababa has rejected the move, vowing not to cooperate, accusing the UN of being politically motivated, and spurning US call for a peaceful end to the raging conflict.
In Juba, Tarik Acem who also hails from Ethiopia accused the United States for supporting the Tigray rebels.
