Ethiopia: Germany’s Foreign Minister calls for lifting of martial law

Sigmar Gabriel

ESAT News (May 2, 2017)

Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany on Tuesday called on the Ethiopian regime to lift the state of emergency declared in October 2016 following a two year anti-government protests that left hundreds of people dead in the hands of security forces.

According to a report by Deutsche Welle Amharic Service, Sigmar Gabriel, who is in Ethiopia for a two day official visit, also called the regime to be true to its promise of political reform and listen to the grievances of the people and its political opponents.

The radio report says the Foreign Minister, who held talks with Ethiopian officials as well representatives of the opposition, underscored the importance of political reform, peace and stability in the country to encourage the flow of foreign investment.

Meanwhile, speaking on the issue of african migration to Europe, Gabriel said setting up camps for migrants in Libya will not stop their flow toward Europe and stabilizing African countries is a better strategy, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The German Foreign Minister made the remark while he and African Union Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat addressed a plan embraced earlier this year by European Union leaders to stop the movement of smuggled migrants through the largely lawless north African country, according to the AP report.

African nations that are the source of migrants should be stabilized instead, the foreign minister said.