Ethiopia confirmed on Friday that its airspace is safe, following a warning from the United States about potential dangers to civilian aircraft in Ethiopian airspace due to the escalating military conflict in the country. This week, the Federal Aviation Administration advised U.S. airlines to exercise caution in their flights to or near Ethiopia as fighting that has continued for a year approaches the Ethiopian capital. The statement noted that airlines "should exercise caution during flight operations due to potential unintended risks to civil aviation over and near combat zones," adding that civilian aircraft could be directly or indirectly exposed to ground gunfire or ground-to-air fire.
However, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority rejected the U.S. warning, describing it as "baseless and completely contrary to reality." It stated that "the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority would like to declare that any flight in Ethiopian airspace, including Addis Ababa International Airport, is safe."
Earlier this month, the Ethiopian government declared a nationwide state of emergency and ordered residents of Addis Ababa to prepare to defend their neighborhoods amid fears of rebel advances from the northern Tigray region toward the capital. The U.S. embassy evacuated non-essential staff and urged American citizens to leave the country. Washington has been one of the staunchest critics of the conflict in Africa's second-most populous country, which has claimed thousands of lives and pushed hundreds of thousands into famine.
U.S. envoy to the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, visited Ethiopia this week alongside former Nigerian President and African Union envoy Olusegun Obasanjo as part of intensified efforts to try to halt the conflict. Tigray People's Liberation Front spokesman Getachew Reda stated on Friday that Obasanjo traveled to Tigray for "intensive discussions" with the front's leadership. He added on Twitter: "They agreed to continue engaging in the pursuit of peace and stability in the country."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed Washington's call for a ceasefire during a visit to Kenya on Wednesday, having warned last week that Ethiopia is at risk of "internal collapse" if negotiations do not occur between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front for an agreement. Obasanjo also warned that peace talks "cannot bear fruit" without an immediate cessation of hostilities.
