The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dina Mufti, spoke to this effect at a press conference in which he also announced that the foreign ministry’s approach in the coming year will be oriented to maintaining sovereignty.

“Efforts will be made to rally even more support on the continent, building on the strengthening of pan-Africanism, in an attempt to defend the state from foreign meddling,” he commented.

According to his statement, “currently some countries give Ethiopia all the necessary support against undue pressure on the state”, however, “our diplomatic battle must be redoubled.”

He also stressed that “efforts will be made to renew diplomatic relations with the allies in a spirit of mutual benefit”, although “we are aware that our main strength is the will and capacity of the Ethiopian people.”

Regarding the relationship with the United States, he stated that “the federal authorities want to clarify the misunderstandings” that arose as a result of the armed conflict against the Tigray Popular Liberation Front.

“We hope that the new US administration will try to fix ties,” he said, and expressed the Ethiopian government’s willingness to discuss any matter with the rest of the countries from a position of mutual respect.

pgh/llp/acl/raj