MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on 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

Michael Gahler, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Sandra Kalniete, Miriam Lexmann, Loránt Vincze, György Hölvényi, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Tomáš Zdechovský, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Inese Vaidere, Vangelis Meimarakis, Krzysztof Hetman, Romana Tomc, Magdalena Adamowicz, Ivan Štefanec, Maria Walsh, Adam Jarubas, Benoît Lutgen, Eva Maydell, Jiří Pospíšil, Stanislav Polčák, Stelios Kympouropoulos, David Lega, Ioan‑Rareş Bogdan, Paulo Rangel
on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0383/2020

B9‑0388/2020

European Parliament resolution on Situation in Ethiopia

(2020/2881(RSP))

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on Ethiopia, in particular that of 19 January 2016 on the situation in Ethiopia,

 

- having regard to the statement by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on Ethiopia, released on 9 November 2020,

 

- having regard to Statement of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, on the situation in Ethiopia, released on 9 November 2020,

- having regard to the situation report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Ethiopia, released on 11 November 2020,

- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

- having regard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia,

 

- having regard to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights,

- having regard to the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement (the Cotonou Agreement),

 

- having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas fights in Ethiopia’s northern state of Tigray have escalated in past weeks, with hundreds of soldiers and civilians killed  and injured in a deteriorating conflict between regional forces and the national government;

 

2. whereas the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, announced a full offensive against the regional party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in response to an alleged raid on an army camp; whereas Ethiopia's government has rejected calls for mediation;

 

3. whereas the current military deployment is the culmination of a long-standing antagonism between the central government, represented by PM Abiy and the TPLF; whereas there is a significant risk that the local violence destabilizes Ethiopia as well as its immediate neighborhood; whereas the danger of a major humanitarian crisis is increasing;

 

4. whereas need for humanitarian assistance is rapidly increasing; whereas fuel and electricity perturbations are impacting basic services, and communications have been interrupted;

 

5. whereas the UNHCR estimates that more than 30,000 people have fled to Sudan due to the continuing conflict in Tigray and neighbouring areas;

 

6. whereas Ethiopia’s economy has recently been heavily hit by the COVID-19 virus, flooding and a locust upsurge which have devastated farms; whereas further disputes would only exacerbate an already chronic poverty rate;

 

7. whereas Humanitarian Response mechanisms have already depleted their resources due to multiple emergencies throughout the year; whereas there is an urgent need to mobilize for additional funding;

 

8. whereas Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of EU development contribution in Africa;

 

9. Notes that the humanitarian and security situation in Sudan is already fragile and the influx of refugees endangers the relative stability of the country;

 

1. Is deeply concerned by recent developments in Ethiopia which includes reports of ongoing violence and allegations of serious breaches of fundamental human rights;

 

2. Calls on Ethiopia’s central government and the TPLF  to take immediate actions to de-escalate the conflict and to ensure that further escalation does not occur;

 

3. Notes with concern the 72 hours ultimatum issued by Prime Minister Abiy to Tigray forces, urging them to surrender otherwise a military assault on the regional capital Mekelle would be pursued;

 

4. Urges all parties to commit to dialogue and to work towards a peaceful resolution ensuring that human rights and international law are respected whiles lives are protected;

 

5. Expresses its full support to African Union-led mediation and de-escalation efforts initiated by the South African presidency of the AU, notably the nomination of three AU Special Envoys, and calls upon all parties involved to actively cooperate and engage with the AU’s mediation efforts,

 

6. Reiterates its continued readiness to support an inter-Ethiopian effort in the pursuit of peace and stability and improving human security;

 

7. Notes with great concern the escalating humanitarian crisis; Calls on the Ethiopian Government to give  humanitarian organizations immediate and unrestricted  access to the areas where there is conflict, in order to ensure humanitarian aid;

 

8. Expresses its outrage about the alleged massacre in the city of Mai-Kadra of 9 November where hundreds of people, including civilians, were brutally killed, and demands an immediate investigation into these very severe crimes,

 

9. Calls on the EU and its Member States to mobilize additional resources to address the acute humanitarian needs inside Ethiopia as well as in Sudan, where the first influx of refugees has started;

 

10. Calls on the central government’s authorities and representatives of the TPLF to immediately restore telecommunications in Tigray;

 

11. Calls on the Commission to assist the safe, voluntary return of refugees to their place of origin as the security conditions allows;

 

12. Expresses severe concern about recent reports about the involvement of Eritrea and urges all actors to refrain from escalating this conflict;"

 

13. Calls upon all regional parties to refrain from entering this conflict as a regional escalation would have detrimental impacts on the region as a whole;

 

14. Expresses its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and calls upon all actors inside Ethiopia to work towards the peaceful solution of any conflict inside Ethiopia;

 

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, the President of Ethiopia, the UN Human Rights Council, and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.