Several ethnic Tigrayan nuns and religious sisters, who were detained by Ethiopian security forces since late last year, have been released. The seven sisters- Latemaryam Sibhat, Tiblets Teum, Abeba Tesfay, Zaid Moss, Abeba Hagos, and Abeba Fitwi, of the Congregation of Sisters of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, and Sr Abrehet Teserma, and Ursuline sister, were released on 15 January, after being abducted and detained since 30 November 2021. Even though these seven have been released, a further two nuns, and two deacons who were detained alongside them, are still locked up, with no word as to their release.

The Foreign Ministry in Ethiopia has called on the World Health Organization, to investigate its leader of local operations, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for reportedly supporting anti-government forces. “Tedros Adhonom’s moral, legal and professional standing that threatened WHO’s organizational standing. He has spread harmful misinformation and compromised WHO’s reputation, independence, credibility which is evident from social media postings,” is what the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. He has been accused by the government of being a member of TPLF and “encourages the TPLF in his media engagements and celebrates what is presumed to be a military success of the group, besides engaging in selective outrage where he discriminately addresses the humanitarian concerns in Ethiopia.” If this is the government’s official position on Ghebreyesus that could prove to be very troublesome for the WHO and its efforts in Ethiopia, as it already has said its supplies and supply lines are being restricted. If in fact the government does believe Ghebreyesus is a TPLF sympathizer or member, they might repeat what they did with the Norwegian Refugee Council and Doctors without Borders, and ban the WHO from operating in the country.

Stay Up-To-Date!