US says Abiy Ahmad is duly elected leader of Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict was at the center of today’s press briefing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Kenyan counterpart Rachel Omamo. Blinken is visiting three African countries Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Senegal this week.

In response to a question, Antony Blinken said that talks should start between a duly elected leader of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmad and other warring parties. TPLF and major Oromo parties like Oromo Federalist Congress and Oromo Liberation Front were not part of the June 21st Ethiopian election and these parties do not see Abiy Ahmad as legitimate Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

While Tigray forces and Oromo Liberation Army are heading towards the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the US seems to be opposing any forced removal of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad from Addis Ababa.