Ethiopia expels Irish diplomats, as UK and France tell their citizens to leave

Imminent dangers as fighting closes in on capital Addis Ababa

Captive Ethiopian soldiers arrive at the Mekele Rehabilitation Centre in Tigray, Ethiopia, after a four-day journey from Abdi Eshir. All photos: AFP

Women welcome Tigray People's Liberation Front fighters as they return to Mekele after seizing control of the city in June 2021.

Ethiopians who fled the Tigray conflict wait to charge their phones at Um Raquba refugee camp in Gedaref, Sudan.

A member of the Afar Special Forces stands in front of the debris of a house on the outskirts of the village of Bisober in Tigray.

People hold candles and Ethiopian flags at a memorial service for the victims of the Tigray conflict in Addis Ababa.

An Ethiopian refugee who fled fighting in Tigray waits behind a fence in a camp in Sudan.

Refugees living in a camp in Sudan after fleeing violence in Tigray.

A woman walks among the remains of a destroyed factory in Ataye, Ethiopia, where more than 100 civilians died in a recent flare-up of violence.

Two members of the Amhara militia ride in the back of a pick-up truck. Amharas and Tigrayans were uneasy neighbours before the current fighting, with tension over land sparking violent clashes.

Militias from the Amhara region have been involved in the fighting in Tigray.

Tens of thousands of Ethiopians gather at a rally organised by the mayor of Addis Ababa to show support for the military's efforts in Tigray.

Zeleke Alabachew, farmer and militia fighter, tends to his land near the village of Tekeldengy, Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation.

People celebrate the liberation of opposition leaders in the city of Alamata, Ethiopia.

A family fleeing violence sit in a former classroom at May Weyni secondary school, now hosting 10,500 displaced people, in Mekele, capital of Tigray.

Ethiopian refugees travel to Sudan to escape violence in Tigray.

Ethiopian refugees gather to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Tigray People's Liberation Front at Um Raquba refugee camp in Gedaref, Sudan. The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics before being ousted from their regional stronghold last year.

An Ethiopian refugee sets up a tent in a camp in the town of Gedaref, Sudan, after being transported from the border reception centre.

Pro-Tigrayan demonstrators display placards during a protest in front of the chancellery in Berlin.

The aftermath of heavy shelling in Wukro, a city north of Mekele, in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia expelled four Irish diplomats, as a number of European countries advised their citizens living in the war-torn country to leave urgently.

Ireland condemned the expulsion, which leaves two staff in the country, as the UK, France and Switzerland ordered its citizens in Ethiopia to leave and other nations were expected to follow.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which is fighting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s forces, is advancing on the capital, Addis Ababa.

The US, UN and Germany have made similar evacuation orders as the conflict in Ethiopia intensifies.

“I deeply regret this decision by the government of Ethiopia,” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said.

“Our engagement internationally on Ethiopia, including at the [UN] Security Council, has been consistent with the positions and statements made by the European Union.”

On Wednesday, Britain advised its citizens to leave Ethiopia immediately.

“In the coming days we may see the fighting move closer to Addis Ababa, which could severely limit options for British nationals to leave Ethiopia,” Vicky Ford, Minister for Africa,
said.

“Those who choose not to leave now should make preparations to shelter in a place of safety over the coming weeks. We cannot guarantee there will be options to leave Ethiopia in the future.”

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reported how fighters from both sides used rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.

France and Switzerland joined the flurry of nations on Wednesday recommending their citizens should leave.

“All French nationals are formally urged to leave the country without delay,” the French embassy in Addis Ababa said in an email.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the decision was made because of the deteriorating security situation.

“The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to Ethiopia for any reason,” it said. “It also recommends that Swiss nationals in Ethiopia leave the country by their own means.”

The ministry advised people to leave Ethiopia using available commercial flights.

There are 230 Swiss citizens in Ethiopia registered with the country's embassy in Addis Ababa, the vast majority of whom live in the country. About 20 have left since the beginning of November.