The first ever in-person meeting between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The discussion on Tuesday took place in Washington D.C. on the sides of the ongoing US-Africa Leaders Summit. “Secretary Blinken commended steps taken by the Ethiopian government to improve humanitarian access and begin restoration of essential services” the statement said. But he urged for “accelerated implementation of the agreement and access to the conflict areas by international human rights monitors,” according to the readout. Similarly, Secretary Blinken’s call for “international human rights monitors” to access conflict areas comes in the backdrop of the Ethiopian government’s opposition to allow access international rights experts to conduct independent investigations into atrocities committed in the war.

Source: Ethiopian News December 14, 2022 22:38 UTC