Qatar and UAE back Ethiopian government as fighting spreads beyond Tigray

Qatar has condemned what it called the military escalation against Ethiopia’s federal forces, while the United Arab Emirates has voiced support for the Ethiopian government amid renewed fighting in the country’s north. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the fighting threatened Ethiopia’s unity and sovereignty and the stability of the wider Horn of Africa. It called for an immediate end to the fighting, protection for civilians and respect for the Pretoria Peace Agreement between Tigray and Ethiopia. The Qatari statement did not name the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) or the new alliance of armed groups fighting the federal government. Qatar said its “full support” was for efforts to reduce tensions and resolve disputes through dialogue.