Question Period Note: Conflict in Ethiopia

Into its second year, the conflict between the Government of Ethiopia and Tigrayan People's Liberation Front in Ethiopia has spread and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating.

• Canada is alarmed by the conflict in Ethiopia, which continues to deteriorate, and by ongoing impediments to humanitarian access across northern Ethiopia, leading to a worsening famine.

• An immediate pause of hostilities by all parties is essential, along with a negotiated ceasefire agreement and the launch of a peace process. It is only through mediation and dialogue that the people of Ethiopia will secure an enduring resolution to the crisis.

• Prime Minister Trudeau has spoken to Prime Minister Abiy to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and to reiterate the importance of immediate and concrete efforts toward a peaceful resolution. Canada stands ready to support Ethiopia and the African Union in these efforts.
• Canada is working closely with international partners and allies to support ongoing efforts to resolve this grave human rights and humanitarian crisis.

• To date in 2021, Canada has provided $43 million in humanitarian assistance funding to its UN, Red Cross, and NGO partners to address life-saving needs throughout Ethiopia, including in response to the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

The conflict is into its second year, and has spread rapidly beyond Tigray into surrounding Ethiopian regions. Eritrean forces remain in Tigray and Amhara regions. The Ethiopian government continues to block humanitarian access into Tigray. The humanitarian situation is continuing to deteriorate, with hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray experiencing famine and thousands displaced.

Despite considerable international pressure to seek a political solution, the Ethiopian government and the TPLF have both escalated armed hostilities, overlaid with ethnically-targeted discourse that threatens Ethiopia's long-term viability.
Mediation efforts are underway through two coordinated and mutually-reinforcing channels of the African Union's High Representative Obasanjo and Kenyan President Kenyatta. The international community is supporting these efforts.

Canada has maintained a consistent approach, calling on all parties to take action to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, an immediate pause in hostilities, and accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations, abuses and atrocities. Canada stands ready to provide targeted assistance for mediation, peacebuilding and reconciliation through peace support operations, development assistance, and other mechanisms going forward.

On November 20, Canada updated its travel advisory for Ethiopia calling on Canadians to leave immediately. On November 7, Global Affairs Canada announced the decision to withdraw all family members of Canadian embassy staff and non-essential Canadian employees.

Canada-Ethiopia calls have taken place at the Prime Minister-level (February 25, November 13), Minister of Foreign Affairs (March 8, July 29) and Minister of International Development (February 10). To date in 2021, Canada has provided $43 million in humanitarian assistance to its UN, Red Cross, and NGO partners to respond to needs in Ethiopia, including in Tigray.

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