U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said two others were freed “in the past few days.” All three were Ethiopian nationals. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who returned from Ethiopia last week, said she raised the issue of the last three staffers still being held during meetings with the country’s leaders. The arrests strained relations between the United Nations and the Ethiopian government. Following some of the fiercest fighting of the conflict, Ethiopia soldiers fled the Tigray capital, Mekele, in June 2021, and the government declared a national state of emergency with sweeping powers. “Refugees who trekked the long distance to the regional capital in Semera told UNHCR that armed men stole their belongings and occupied their homes,” he said.

Source: Ethiopian News February 18, 2022 23:38 UTC