Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
464. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current situation in Ethiopia; if he has received representations regarding concerns over the situation of the Oromo community in the country; if action is being taken at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13535/21]
View answerThe ongoing armed conflict between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the former regional authorities in Tigray, which began on 4 November, remains a major concern for Ireland. The conflict has had a devastating impact on the population of Tigray, and poses severe risks to the stability of Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Ireland strongly supports calls by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for independent, impartial, thorough and transparent investigations into alleged serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Tigray, to ensure accountability and, where appropriate, justice.
On 26 February, Amnesty International reported that hundreds of unarmed civilians were massacred in Axum last November and that these crimes were perpetrated mainly by Eritrean troops.
The EU most recently discussed the situation in Ethiopia at the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 February, following a visit to Ethiopia and Sudan by the Finnish Foreign Minister on behalf of High Representative Borrell. Minister Coveney spoke with his Finnish counterpart both before and after his visit. Ireland supports the EU’s call for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Ethiopia, whose presence remains a barrier to humanitarian access and is linked to these and other alleged atrocities.
Ireland raised the Tigray situation at the UN Security Council on 3 February and again on 4 March, expressing deep concern at the humanitarian situation in Tigray and calling for unhindered humanitarian access. Ireland also called on all parties in Tigray to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law including those related to the protection of civilians and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.
Ireland will continue to advocate for an urgent response to the humanitarian situation, and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict through bilateral engagement, our EU membership and also at the UN Security Council, where we remain actively engaged with other Council members on further ways to address the crisis. Minister Coveney continues to raise these issues with key interlocutors, including with his counterparts in the region. He has condemned reported atrocities and identity-based attacks, and has called for the human rights of all Ethiopians to be upheld.
My Department, through Irish Aid, has provided over €2.6 million to date to support the humanitarian response to the Tigray crisis. This includes €1.4 million to Irish NGOs within Tigray, €500,000 to the UN refugee agency to support the refugee response in neighbouring Sudan, and almost €750,000 towards humanitarian stocks, and supports for the protection of women and girls.
Unrest in other parts of Ethiopia, including Oromia Region and Benshangul-Gumuz, is also of concern. The Embassy of Ireland in Addis Ababa continues to monitor these situations closely in cooperation with our EU and UN partners.
Ethiopia will hold general elections on 5 June. Ireland looks forward to free, fair and inclusive elections on that date.
