Letter to MP about Tigray War

 Dear Afzal Khan,

I am writing to raise concerns about the UK government's approach to the current conflict in Ethiopia.

Letter to Afzal Khan MP 1.1.2022

There is a widespread opinion among Ethiopians that the UK is part of a campaign led by the United States to undermine the government of Ethiopia in its struggle against the TPLF insurgency.

The war has been marked by atrocities on all sides and the manipulation of relief aid. 

The opinion is that humanitarian concerns have been used as a cover to support the rebels, who initiated the war with a self proclaimed pre-emptive strike on the Ethiopian Army in November last year, and who rejected a ceasefire from the Government to pursue the war into neighbouring provinces.

The United States has punished the Government by cancelling a trade agreement with Ethiopia. It has entered into discussions with the TPLF, and has urged citizens to leave citing the risk that Addis Ababa was about to fall, sparking unwarranted fear among Ethiopians. The US has suggested that troops may be deployed to rescue its nationals in Ethiopia, in what seems like a clear threat. By contrast there has been little criticism of the TPLF, no threats or sanctions against their supporters in the US, no suggestion of recovering funds looted from Ethiopia during the thirty year rule of the TPLF.

The UK government and others in Europe seem to be following this line. The result is that the west has lost influence in Ethiopia. It would be very helpful if the UK could distance itself from the US position, by recognising the legitimacy of the elected Ethiopian government, the illegitimacy of the TPLF, standing against any foreign interference, and announcing an initiative to support the Government to recover funds corruptly extracted from Ethiopia. 

This could also be a moment to announce in principle the willingness of the UK to restore cultural artifacts held at the British Museum and elsewhere, and the body of Prince Alemayahu, whose repatriation has been refused for unclear reasons. Such gestures would cost little, but go a long way to restore the UK's prestige in Ethiopia, our reputation for fairness, and our respect for Ethiopia as a genuinely independent country.

I would be most grateful if you could take this up with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and with any other appropriate government bodies. I am of course at your disposal for any further information about the situation in Ethiopia.

Yours sincerely,

Jim Holloway