Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: September 4 (EI) – The Ethiopian government on Wednesday condemned the current spate of xenophobic attacks against foreigners and foreign owned businesses in South Africa.
“We condemn the heinous act of violence and looting of properties perpetrated against foreigners including our citizens in South Africa,” the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The ministry, however, said that “we are encouraged by the statement of President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, denouncing these acts of violence and his promise to arrest perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
It also stressed the need to see “continued and robust measures taken by South African authorities to contain the violence and ensure our citizen’s security and safety.”
According to the ministry, the Ethiopian Embassy in Pretoria is closely working with authorities and members of the community to address the situation.
Xenophobic attacks have broken out in South Africa following a planned strike by truck drivers in that country protesting the presence of foreign nationals in the trucking business.
Recurrent xenophobic attacks in South Africa have in recent years affected foreign nationals, mainly nationals of other African countries, and their properties.
The latest spate of xenophobic attacks has so far claimed the lives of 5 fellow Africans. The Ethiopian government is yet to reveal whether its nationals were among the affected individuals.
On Monday, the Ethiopian Embassy in South Africa had also warned Ethiopians to take the necessary precautions on the backdrop of violent incidents and looting on businesses owned by foreigners.
The embassy also urged its nationals “not to wear expensive jewelries and if possible, to close their shops, until peace is restored.”
On Tuesday, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, had also condemned “in the strongest terms incidents of violence against fellow Africans in South Africa, including incidences of looting and destruction of property.”
“The AU calls for immediate steps to be taken to protect the lives of people and their property, ensure that all perpetrators are brought to account for their acts, and that justice be done to those who suffered economic and other losses,” the Chairperson said in a statement issued Tuesday.
“The Chairperson reiterates the AU Commission’s continued commitment to support the South African government in addressing the root causes that led to these despicable acts, in order to promote peace and security, within the framework of the AU’s longstanding principles of continental solidarity,” an AU statement read.
