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On November 21, the Ethiopian government deported Crisis Group Ethiopia Senior Analyst William Davison. No formal reason was immediately given, but his expulsion is undoubtedly related to the serious conflict in Tigray and the growing sensitivity to unofficial views.
On November 20, immigration officials in Addis Ababa called Crisis Group Ethiopia’s senior analyst William Davison and informed him that he would have to leave the country immediately. It flew to the UK in the early hours of November 21. Ethiopian authorities have yet to offer a formal reason for the decision. In a previous tweet, an official in the prime minister’s office said Davison’s work permit had been revoked due to labor law violations.
Crisis Group has been transparent and truthful in all statements it has made regarding Mr. Davison’s employment. But these technicalities aside, there is little doubt that the reason for his deportation is related to the current tense situation in the country and the authorities’ growing sensitivity to views that do not fit his line. Notably, on the same day that Mr Davison was expelled, the authorities also sent warning letters to the Ethiopian correspondent for the Reuters news agency and to the BBC and Deutsche Welle stations.
The expulsion of Mr. Davison comes at a difficult and painful time for Ethiopia. On November 4, the second most populous country in Africa plunged into a serious conflict between federal troops and security forces in the Tigray region, one of Ethiopia’s ten states. The conflict has already cost hundreds of lives and sent tens of thousands of refugees to neighboring Sudan.
Crisis Group and its analysts do not take sides. Your responsibility is to present as closely as possible the views of the relevant parties; its mandate is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts; their duty is to the civilians trapped among them. Consequently, and from the beginning, Crisis Group has sought to explain the perspectives of the federal authorities and the Tigrayana leadership, lobbied from the beginning for an end to hostilities and continued to urge the parties to explore a negotiated solution and resolve their differences. through policies. medium.
Since joining Crisis Group in April 2019, Davison has tried to follow this approach. He has been a highly sought after and respected commentator on Ethiopian affairs. He has contributed to 28 reports, briefings, statements, and podcasts that discuss Ethiopia’s contested transition. He has also contributed significantly to the Crisis Group’s work on the Nile waters dispute.
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Crisis Group President and CEO Robert Malley said: “I deeply regret the deportation of William from Ethiopia, especially at this time when we are working so hard to end the current conflict. If Ethiopia wants to be successful in his unique The opportunity of a generation to make the transition to a more open and democratic society should welcome, rather than seek to stifle, the independent voices that analyze its politics. “
Crisis Group is an independent organization that conducts field research, speaks to all parties, and seeks to provide unbiased policy recommendations to help prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world. Our board of directors is comprised of prominent figures from the highest levels of government, business and philanthropic institutions from more than 30 countries, including former heads of state and foreign ministers from Algeria, Australia, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Israel, Japan. , Liberia, Holland, Norway and Sweden.
