Tigray conflict: EU sanctions Addis Ababa, suspends €90 million budget aid

The European Union has decided to sanction Addis Ababa over the crisis in the Tigray region by suspending the payment of a €90 million budget aid. The decision is part of the 27 European countries’ call for a cessation of hostilities.

Concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation caused by the conflict in the Tigray region, the European Union has unsuccessfully urged Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to favor a political resolution of the conflict. In order to put pressure on the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, Brussels has chosen the option of postponing the disbursement of budget aid to Ethiopia.

Two-thirds of the €90 million aid is destined to fund the development of logistical and connectivity links between Ethiopia and its neighbors. Another part, just over a fifth of the amount, is intended to support the health sector budget.

Yet, the €90 million amount represents only a third of the current budget of Ethiopia’s health sector, which has been considerably increased to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Analysts think however that it is not certain that this aid suspension will succeed in changing the Ethiopian prime minister’s position towards the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the party at the head of the region that has been defying the federal government for several months.