Ethiopia closes embassies around the world amid Tigray conflict
ADDIS ABABA- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the country would close more than half of its embassies and consulates around the world, adding that the move was aimed at “saving costs” amid the financial crisis in the Horn of Africa country. Africa.
During his briefing in parliament on Monday, Ahmed, who took office in 2018, said diplomatic offices in several countries would be closed to allow many envoys to work as non-resident ambassadors.
“Ethiopia should not have around 60 embassies and consulates right now. Instead of throwing American dollars everywhere … at least 30 embassies should be closed. Instead, the ambassadors should be here, ”he said.
He said some diplomatic offices could be based in Addis Ababa, adding that envoys should make occasional field visits in addition to following events in outside media.
“The Ethiopian ambassador to Kenya probably meets the foreign minister once a year or in two years,” he said, adding that there is a need for severe reforms in the foreign ministry. “With the current situation Ethiopia finds itself in, the country does not need to have around 60 embassies and consulates,” he said.
In the country, he added, government ministers will be required to drive themselves as part of cutting costs. He insisted that his drastic actions have something to do with economic reforms in the country.
“What we want is a person who gets wet in the mud and runs while reforming the country,” he said.
His statement comes barely a week after insisting on the withdrawal of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] of the Tigray region was pure because of “diminishing financial fortunes”. According to him, the war had cost taxpayers $ 2.2 million.
However, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray [TPLF] claimed that the army had withdrawn after suffering “serious” losses on the battlefield, leading to the ceasefire. The TPLF, otherwise known as the Tigray Defense Forces [TDF], marched hundreds of ENDF soldiers who are now captives of the war.
The TDF issued a statement accompanied by a litany of conditions that Addis Ababa must meet for a ceasefire to be effected. Among other things, they demanded the unconditional withdrawal of Eritrean troops from sections of Tigray.
But Abiy said withdrawing defense forces from the country of Tigray was the right decision. He explained that among the reasons for the government’s decision were economic pressures and Covid-19.
“We have national projects to complete,” he told MPs in Monday’s session, in which the House approved a Birr 561.7 billion budget proposal. [$12.83 billion] for the next fiscal year.
Although diplomatic establishments are expensive, it is unclear how much money Ethiopia intends to save by closing embassies. That the closure of 30 Ethiopian embassies have a significant impact on Ethiopia’s centuries-old diplomatic relations with countries, including Kenya.
While other analysts say the move is due to Abiy Ahmed not supporting various embassies, other experts believe it was a strategy to contain “foreign sponsorship” of TDF, which may have “many supporters” around the world.
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