Finns urged to leave Ethiopia immediately

Finland urged its citizen to leave Ethiopia immediately following the present unstable situation there.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs updated its travel information on Friday and urged all the Finnish nationals and permanent residents staying in Ethiopia to leave the African country, said an official press release.

The Ethiopian authority on 2 November declared a state of emergency in the country after forces from the northern region of Tigray said they were gaining territory and planning to march on the capital Addis Ababa.

The emergency was declared as the US President, Joe Biden accused the government of violating human rights.

“It is difficult to predict the development of the situation and the safety situation as well as, for example, security of supply and the availability of flights may deteriorate unexpectedly,” said the ministry in the update, adding that the commercial flights are still in operation there.

The Ministry said that during the unrest in Ethiopia in the past, internet connection and mobile phone networks were restricted or snapped.

Such situation could be created now, which will make communication difficult, the Ministry said, urging people to communicate with the embassy for assistance in this regard.