After aerial attacks on Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia’s volatile northern Tigray region, the US government has issued a warning to Ethiopia’s warring parties.
The United States, which has threatened sanctions on peacebreakers, has demanded that the parties lay down their arms and chose diplomacy.
“We’ve heard credible reports of attacks in Mekele and the surrounding area. The US condemns the ongoing escalation of violence, which puts people in danger “On Wednesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price sent out a tweet.
If the parties to the Tigray dispute fail to seek a negotiated settlement to stop the nearly year-long brutal civil war, the US has warned to impose penalties.
The US official urged the warring factions to immediately cease hostilities as the conflict between the government and Tigray rebels intensified.
“The government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) must end hostilities and begin talks now,” Mr Price said.
The call comes after Ethiopia carried out airstrikes in Mekelle this week as part of its new major offensives to crush the TPLF, the horn nation’s once-dominant ruling party.
