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Ethiopia crisis: High stakes for Africa

Could the battle for Tigray end up destabilising the entire Horn of Africa?

The fighting between Ethiopian federal troops and regional forces in Tigray has forced thousands of people to flee to Sudan for safety. The UN has warned of a full-scale humanitarian crisis. Ethiopia's Nobel Peace Prize winning prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, says there will be no let-up in his government's 'law enforcement' mission. His aim is to arrest and put on trial TPLF party politicians who he alleges have put the country's constitution in danger. Ethiopia plays a key role in maintaining security in the Horn of Africa. With a population of more than 110 million, and one of the fastest growing economies on the continent, what happens in Ethiopia will inevitably have a wider regional impact. So how did the TPLF - a group which once dominated Ethiopian politics - end up being accused of destroying national unity? Did PM Ahmed opt for a military confrontation before all avenues for negotiation were explored? And what role should Ethiopia's neighbours play in this conflict? Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of experts.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Sat 21 Nov 2020 04:06GMT

Contributors

Alex de Waal - executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University 

´¡·É´Ç±ôÌý´¡±ô±ô´ÇÌý- Ethiopian academic, Keele University, UK 

Tsedale Lemma - Founder and editor-in-chief of The Addis Standard 

Also featuring: 

Redwan Hussien - Ethiopian government spokesman  

Alula Solomon - Tigrayan journalist based in Washington 

Mustafa Omer - Executive Member of the governing Prosperity Party 

Picture

A volunteer holds an Ethiopian flag during a blood donation ceremony for the injured members of Ethiopia's National Defence Forces. Credit: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Nov 2020 10:06GMT
  • Sat 21 Nov 2020 00:06GMT
  • Sat 21 Nov 2020 04:06GMT

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