MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Situation in Ethiopia

24.11.2020 - (2020/2881(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Lars Patrick Berg, Dominique Bilde, Thierry Mariani
on behalf of the ID Group

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0382/2020

European Parliament resolution on the Situation in Ethiopia

(2020/2881(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 

– having regard to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,

 

–  having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 1981,

 

– having regard to the Agreement Establishing the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) of 1996,

 

– having regard to the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia of 1995,

 

– having regard to its earlier motions for resolution on Ethiopia,

 

– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A.  whereas the current conflict not only has disastrous humanitarian consequences in Ethiopia, but will also further destabilise an already volatile region; whereas the conflict has resulted in the large-scale displacement of persons;

 

B.  whereas most conflicts in Africa can be characterised as ethnic conflicts, fuelled by the arbitrary borders drawn up with little to no regard for ethnic demographics in the continent; whereas Ethiopia is divided into 10 ethnically defined regions, each with their own distinct language, culture and history;

 

C. whereas Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution provides that “[e]very Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self-determination, including the right to secession”; whereas the Ethiopian Constitution is one of only a few constitutions in the world that explicitly grants a right to secession;

 

D. whereas a recent report commissioned by the UK Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt, found that the overwhelming majority (80%) of persecuted religious believers are Christians; whereas Ethiopia has a rich and ancient Christian history that can be traced back for millennia; whereas more than 500 Christians have been killed in Ethiopia since June 2020;

 

1. Expresses grave concern about the current conflict in the country; notes that national defence machinery should not be used against civilian populations; urges the Ethiopian government to respect humanitarian law insofar it is applicable to internal armed conflicts; further expresses concern about the TPLF’s call for children to take up arms, which is in direct violation of international law;

 

2.  Notes with concern that Tigrayan troops serving with AMISOM have been disarmed, thereby weakening AMISOM’s fight against al-Shabaab at a crucial moment in the run-up to Somalia’s elections;

 

 

3.  Emphasises that it is the role of the African Union and IGAD, rather than that of the European Union, to assist Ethiopia in finding a peaceful solution to the current crisis; notes in this regard the ineffectiveness of these regional organisations; notes with concern that senior positions within these organisations are held by Ethiopian citizens, thereby creating conflicts of interest; this is particularly relevant in the case of IGAD;

 

4.  Expresses concern that both the European Union and African Union offices are headquartered in Addis Ababa, which calls into question their neutrality and ability to broker ceasefire agreements;

 

5. Expresses concern about the fact that the current conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people, and that neighbouring countries are lacking the capacity to facilitate the influx of people; notes that this might increase migratory flows to Europe; emphasises that refuge should be sought and provided in the region and that the African Union can play a significant role in supporting and facilitating temporary refuge; recognises in this regard the burden that has been placed on the Sudanese authorities to provide a safe haven in the region;

 

6. Expresses grave concern about the murder of Christians in Ethiopia, despite Christians constituting 60% of the population; further expresses its concern that whereas a century ago Christians comprised 20% of the population in the Middle East and North Africa, this has now fallen to less than 4%;

 

7.  Expresses concern that the potential genocide in Ethiopia could be subsumed by the fixation on the US election, which would be analogous to the Rwandan genocide, which was allowed to take place whilst the eyes of the world were fixed on the 1994 Rainbow elections in South Africa;

 

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Council of the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, the Secretary-General of the UN, and the government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.