No less than nine United Nations (UN) staff and their dependents have been detained in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
UN security officials have visited the staff. The global body wants the Abiy Ahmed administration to release them immediately.
Government forces and Tigrayan fighters loyal to Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have been in several shootouts in recent weeks.
Last week, the TPLF and allies, including Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), announced advancement toward Addis Ababa.
A state of emergency was declared on November 2, empowering the government to arrest arbitrarily.
Anyone suspected of helping terrorists can be taken in without a court order. In May, the legislature labelled TPLF and OLA terrorist organizations.
Daniel Bekele, head of Ethiopian Human Rights Commission told Reuters on Tuesday that the arrest of hundreds of Tigrayans is being followed.
On Monday, the police said only “followers” of the TPLF are being detained, adding that “this is not ethnically motivated”.
