Link to article: https://allafrica.com/stories/202111040097.html
On November 3rd, 2021, the US State Department announced that Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, will travel to Ethiopia on November 4 for a two-day visit due to the escalating conflict between Ethiopia and its Tigray region. On November 2nd, after a year of fighting, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has been gaining territory and is deliberating on invading the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, while those living in the capital have been instructed to gather weapons and prepare to defend the city. In the midst of all of this, there is a severe famine occurring in the Tigray region, with around 900,000 people facing “famine-like” conditions, and 90% of the population is in need of aid. A large part of this problem stems from the Ethiopian government placing bureaucratic barriers on the region and removing seven senior UN humanitarian and human rights officials. The deliberate work to deprive the region of food can amount to a war crime as well. The envoy is urging both sides to reconsider their priorities so that the country does not become entrenched in a decades-long civil war.
This problem is reflective of many conflicts that stem from multiple issues coalescing into one larger conflict that spirals out of control rather quickly when people lose sight of what they are fighting over. Additionally, the main source of disagreement comes from two governments disagreeing over each other’s legitimacy, which may have to do with cultural differences leading to the creation of separate governments. Cultural differences are, obviously, a very volatile source of conflict that can often be used to justify atrocities. Speaking of atrocities, the US condemnation of Ethiopia’s human rights abuses may lead to a ceasing of special trade benefits between the two states. While this may not affect the US in any significant manner, Ethiopia would stand to lose valuable benefits with a significant trade partner which could have disparaging effects on their economy. Perhaps this disgruntlement may push Ethiopia to seek more commerce and better relations with some of the US’s eastern foes in the future.
This situation relates to international law, considering the US is condemning the human rights violations of both the TPLF and the Ethiopian government. More so, the unipolar international system is displayed by the US exercising its influence over the conflict. Additionally, the principle of Dominance is demonstrated through the US threatening to remove the special trade benefits that Ethiopia enjoys if they refuse to stop violating human rights. Different global actors are present in this situation: the US and Ethiopia are both states and the TPLF could also be considered a non-recognized state since they have established their own government, but this is up for debate.