United States has called for the investigation of the reports that Eritrean forces committed human rights abuses against civilians before withdrawing from Ethiopia, as US says it’ll continue to impede delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance.
State department Spokesman, Ned Price on Monday who made the call while responding to questions at the Press Briefing, urged the Ethiopian govt to fulfill its commitment to grant full access to international human rights monitors.
Recall that Secretary of State, Antony Blinken spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed regarding the significant progress to date on the implementation of the November 2 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including the ongoing withdrawal of Eritrean troops from northern Ethiopia.
The Secretary welcomed this development, noting that it was key to securing a sustainable peace in northern Ethiopia, and urged access for international human rights monitors.
The Secretary affirmed to the Prime Minister the commitment of the United States to support the African Union-led peace process in northern Ethiopia, while the two discussed the need to bring an end to ongoing instability in the Oromia region.
Ned said, “the departure of Eritrean and other forces is crucial, as I said before, to achieving lasting peace, securing full humanitarian access, and ensuring the territorial integrity of Ethiopia.
“Even as we continue to see positive signs, including ongoing withdrawal of Eritrean forces, we are concerned by reports that Eritrean forces have committed human rights abuses against civilians, and we continue – and continue to impede the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance”, he said.
Meanwhile, report has it that on Friday last week, residents in major Tigray cities like Axum and Adawa witnessed massive activities of withdrawal of Eritrean troops from their areas. “20 to 30 trucks carrying troops have passed to Adi Barak over the past two days.
“What makes today’s movement different is that they are way too many and they are carrying everything. There are even trucks carrying anti-plane missiles,” a resident from Adwa told BBC Reporter on Friday.
However the news of the withdrawal hasn’t been confirmed by the African Union appointed Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission (MVCM) team, who on 10 January confirmed launch of disarmament process of Tigrayan combatants.
The Executive Declaration on the Modalities for the Implementation of the Pretoria agreement, which was signed in Nairobi on 12 November, article 2.1/D, stated “disarmament of heavy weapons will be done con-currently with withdrawal of foreign and non-ENDF forces from the region.”