UN staff detained amid Ethiopian crackdown

The detainees are Ethiopian, and UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York on Tuesday that the United Nations “Working actively with the government of Ethiopia to secure his immediate release.” Dujarric did not provide any further information about the ethnicity of the employees caught.

The issue of ethnicity is important, as the Ethiopian government has spent the past years embroiled in conflict with Tigrean separatists in the northern Tigre region. These Tigrayans were once prominent among the country’s 80 different ethnic groups, but in recent years have complained of discrimination from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, which is made up of a coalition of other ethnic factions.

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Ahmed declared a six-month state of emergency last week, as Tigrian fighters captured several towns and vowed to march on Addis Ababa. “hundreds” The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission told Reuters on Sunday that tigers had been arrested in the capital. UN employees may have been arrested in action across the city.

“These are UN staff members, they are Ethiopians … and we want to see them released, no matter what ethnicity is listed on their identity cards,” Dujarric said.

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Government spokesman Legacy Tulu told Reuters he had no knowledge of the arrests of UN staff, adding that “Those who are detained are Ethiopians who violate”[d] Law.”

Back in September, Ahmed’s government Expelled Seven UN officials accused him of “interfere” in the affairs of the country.

The expulsion was internationally condemned, as was the alleged arrest on Tuesday. In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US had discovered the alleged arrests “About,” and will continue to press for a ceasefire in Ethiopia.

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