NEW YORK, 10 November 2021, (TON): The United Nations has said “16 of its Ethiopian staff have been detained in the country’s capital, Addis Ababa, with six others having been released.”

Speaking to reporters in New York, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said “the world body was actively working with the Ethiopian government to secure the immediate release of those who were still in detention.

He said “there has been, as far as I know, no explanation given to us on why these staff members are detained.”

He added “noting that UN security officials have visited the detained staff, all Ethiopian nationals working for various UN agencies.”

There was no immediate comment by the Ethiopian government, which has been battling forces from the northern Tigray region for a year.

Tensions between Ethiopia’s government and the UN have been high throughout the war, which according to estimates by the world body has pushed hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions.

In late September, the government had ordered the expulsion of seven senior UN officials from the country for “meddling” in its internal affairs.