15 Kenyans Trapped in Unstable Amhara Region
The Ethiopian Amhara region is currently witnessing intense conflicts, and the Kenyan Embassy in Ethiopia has acknowledged being informed about the presence of 15 Kenyan nationals in different areas of the region.
In a Tuesday response, Ambassador Jean Kamau stated that the embassy is in communication with all impacted individuals via their respective group leaders.
“The mission has also engaged the Ethiopian authorities and we await advice on the way forward. The embassy further reiterates the situation is volatile, and the mission is monitoring the situation while advising Kenyans to continue taking precautions” Amb Kamau told the Star.
On Monday, the embassy issued a concise announcement, recommending individuals from Kenya in the vicinity to refrain from traveling through unstable areas.
It also issued contact details to reach the embassy. Email: keaddisababa@gmail.com, and copy addisababa@mfa.go.ke – Tel: Embassy Line : +251 11 6610135/6 – Consular Officer: +251-929-107-859, +251976056336
On Friday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia announced a six-month period of heightened state of emergency due to escalating confrontations between the country’s military and local Fano militants in the Amhara region’s northern area.
Effectively, the action enforces curfew regulations, limits mobility, and prohibits the assembling of groups.
The Prime Minister’s Office, in a social media post, expressed the need to announce a state of emergency. This decision is motivated by the emergence of a situation that is challenging to manage within the constraints of existing legislation, referring to an undesirable movement that has become hard to control.
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The decision came after Amhara’s regional leader, Yilkal Kefale, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Abiy, asking for assistance. In the letter, he mentioned that the turmoil was leading to significant economic, societal, and humanitarian repercussions.
The letter stated that managing the situation using the usual law enforcement mechanism has become challenging.
The letter came after Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen’s previous plea, in which he stated on Wednesday that finding a peaceful solution through dialogue is of utmost importance.
As reported by AFP, the conflict in the Amhara region has intensified over the past few weeks, leading to travel advisories from international governments and the suspension of flights by Ethiopian Airlines, due to clashes between the national military and indigenous combatants.
On Monday, Donnelly Mwachi, an individual on Twitter, posted a set of tweets that have now been removed, discussing the situation where certain individuals from Kenya found themselves stuck in Gondar, which is located in the Amhara region.
On Monday, Donnelly Mwachi, a Twitter user, shared a series of tweets that have since been deleted. The tweets were about the predicament of some Kenyan citizens who became stranded in Gondar, situated in the Amhara region.
“We have 7 Kenyans trapped in Gondar, Amhara Region in Ethiopia due to ongoing clashes. They are taking refuge in an underground structure with limited access to food and water. They work for TdH and Naya Kenya. Is it possible for the govt to assist in arranging their evacuation?” Mwachi tweeted
15 Kenyans Trapped in Unstable Amhara Region
