Conflict in Tigray: Macron met with Sudanese and Ethiopian prime ministers

Emmanuel Macron met on Saturday with the Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdallah Hamdok, then with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, and underlined "

the concern of France in the face of the resurgence of fighting in northern Ethiopia and the evolution of the humanitarian situation in Tigray

”, indicated the French presidency.

"

The President of the Republic indicated that the very degraded humanitarian situation and the need to deliver aid to the populations of Tigray require strong measures and in particular the lifting of all restrictions on the delivery of aid

", have specified the services of the Elysee in a press release.

Read also: Ethiopia: the resumption of fighting in Tigray raises the specter of a war of independence

The UN warned on Wednesday that rations from the last humanitarian convoy to reach Tigray's capital Mekele on July 12 would only last a few days.

Some 5.2 million people - more than 90% of Tigray's population - live on foreign aid, according to the UN.

Roads to this region are hampered by restrictions or security concerns after a World Food Program (WFP) convoy attacked on July 18.

Martin Griffiths, the new UN Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, is in the country to meet Ethiopian officials and to travel to Tigray and the neighboring region of Amhara.

"

In this context, France supports the efforts of the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Martin Griffiths, who is currently in Ethiopia,

" said the Elysee.

After months of growing tensions, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2019, sent the federal army to Tigray (North) in November 2020 to remove the regional authorities from the People's Liberation Front of Tigray (TPLF).

Rebel counterattack

He claimed victory in late November after the capture of Mekele, but fighting continued and by the end of June pro-TPLF rebels had regained most of the region, including the capital.

During his talks with the two Sudanese and Ethiopian heads of government, Emmanuel Macron indicated that "

the evolution of the situation would require the negotiation of a cessation of hostilities and the opening of a political dialogue between the parties to the conflict in respect for the integrity and unity of Ethiopia

”.

"

Alongside its partners, France stands ready to support Ethiopia in these directions,

" added the presidency of the French Republic.