ADDIS ABABA, 31 May 2021, (TON): Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nation's capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protesters at the rally in Addis Ababa carried banners that criticised the United States and others in the international community who are voicing concern over atrocities in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces are hunting down the region's ousted and now-fugitive leaders.

Troops from neighbouring Eritrea are fighting in Tigray on the side of Ethiopian government forces, in defiance of international calls for their withdrawal. But the protesters in Addis Ababa carried placards that said “Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention.” Others said Ethiopia's sovereignty was at stake.

The US said last week it has started restricting visas for government and military officials of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are seen as undermining efforts to resolve the fighting in Tigray, home to an estimated 6 million of Ethiopia's 110 million people.                Besides the visa restrictions, Washington is imposing wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government called the US action “misguided” and “regrettable.”

“The Ethiopian government will not be deterred by this unfortunate decision of the US administration,”  It said, “If such a resolve to meddle in our internal affairs and undermining the century-old bilateral ties continues unabated, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will be forced to reassess its relations with the United States, which might have implications beyond our bilateral relationship,” said the statement.

The crisis began in November after Ethiopia and Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF,clashed. Troops sent by Ethiopia's leader, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, quickly carried out operations against TPLF in major cities and towns killing thousands of people, but still peace could not be restored across Tigray.