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.
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Ethiopia’s Tigray crisis: Why Middle East countries have a stake
Duration: 02:57
Contributors
Alex de Waal - executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University
Awol Allo - 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
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Broadcasts
- Fri 20 Nov 202010:06GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 21 Nov 202000:06GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 21 Nov 202004:06GMTBBC World Service
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